John Hartson says Villarreal player should have seen red against Rangers

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Rangers earned an excellent 0-0 draw against Villarreal

John Hartson told BT Sport 3’s coverage of Rangers’ 0-0 draw with Villarreal on Thursday night that the Spanish side should have also been reduced to 10 men in the second half – with Mario Gaspar lucky to get away with only a yellow.

Referee Matej Jug gave Daniel Candeias a second yellow card just moments after handing him his first yellow, in what was a bizarre sending off that saw Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier involved.

The Gers held on thanks to a handful of stunning saves from Ibrox legend Allan McGregor, earning a crucial point and everything to play for in the Europa League’s Group G table. Indeed, Rangers even had chances to win the game.

Celtic icon Hartson will have frustrated fans by claiming that Villarreal should have also been reduced to 10 men. Gaspar was shown a yellow for a blatant kick on Morelos. In the second half, he blocked Jon Flanagan – but Jug chose not to send Gaspar off for a second yellow.

“The referee was messy. It’s a blatant block for the second yellow. The first one is an obvious yellow card and then the Flanagan one, he tries to maraud forward, get Rangers up the pitch,” Hartson said.

“Here, he wins it back, goes forward and drives, and he’s just taken out [by Gaspar]. That’s a yellow, so he should’ve been sent off. It was right in front of the referee.”

The Gers could have won the game with Kyle Lafferty perhaps coming closest to scoring – his long-range effort expertly tipped over the bar by Andres Fernandez. Glenn Middleton had a goal disallowed for being offside.

The draw leaves Rangers in third place in Group G with six points, one point above Spartak Moscow. Above Rangers are both Villarreal in first, and Rapid Vienna in second – both on seven points.

Steven Gerrard’s side go up against Rapid Vienna next time out on December 13, but their focus will have already switched to the Scottish Premiership as they travel to Tynecastle to face Hearts on Sunday afternoon.