Richard Foster slammed Ryan Kent on BBC Sportsound after he bought an early penalty as Rangers hosted Red Star Belgrade in the first-leg of their Europa League last 16 encounter.
The Gers continued their European tour at Ibrox by welcoming the Serbian side to Glasgow on Thursday night. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men had already put their competitors on alert by beating Borussia Dortmund in the previous round, thanks to their win in Germany.
It only took Red Star three-minutes to show their threat, however, when Aleksandar Katai smashed home into the top corner. But the offside flag kept the scoreline level and the VAR was again needed six-minutes later. Yet this time at the other end as Rangers earned a pen.
Referee Serdar Gozubuyuk deemed Slavoljub Srnic to have tripped Kent inside the Red Star box for a Rangers penalty. James Tavernier stepped up and converted from the spot to break the deadlock. He has now scored the most Europa League penalties (3) this season.
Kent has also won more penalties (2) than any other player in the Europa League so far this term. But former Rangers defender Foster does not believe Gozubuyuk should have given a spot-kick against Red Star, as Kent had bought the contact with Srnic after losing the ball.
“You watch Kent running and it’s unnatural,” Foster said. “He throws his leg into the Serbian defender.”
Kent wins Rangers penalty in back-to-back Europa League fixtures at Ibrox
Srnic stuck a leg out to tackle Kent as the Rangers winger waltzed into the Red Star penalty area. Gozubuyuk took his time to review the incident at the pitchside monitor before the Dutchman pointed to the spot. Much to the Ibrox crowd’s delight, despite Foster’s surprise.
Kent had also won Rangers a penalty during their previous Europa League fixture at Ibrox. Mateu Lahoz gave the Gers a spot kick to break the deadlock in their second-leg draw with Dortmund last month. And likewise, it was Tavernier who converted from 12-yards out.
So, Kent has now been involved in a Rangers goal during three-straight European ties after assisting at Borussia Dortmund, too. He fed John Lundstram in the Gers’ 4-2 away win over the Bundesliga outfit, to earn Foster’s praise for his ‘brilliant’ driving runs from the wings.
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