Kilmarnock and Rangers both saw a man sent off in a slow game at Rugby Park that kicked off this weekend’s Scottish Premier League fixtures.
Pedro Mendes was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. The decision infuriated manager Walter Smith who had to be sent to the stands by the officials.
Kilmarnock’s Pascali, who had entered the referee’s book earlier for a poor late tackle on Novo, received his second yellow card a few minutes from full time for pulling Steven Davis’ shirt.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies:
We set out a certain way, we had a big physical strong side out today. Rangers probably had good possession. We contained them.
I thought in the second half, we totally dominated it and we had the best two chances of the second half. The one that came off the post, I don’t know how it didn’t go in and Danny doesn’t know he missed the sitter.
Apart from that, our goalkeeper’s not had a save to make so I was really pleased with the performance.
Some of the bookings just weren’t warranted. Other than that, I thought the referee had a decent game.
Rangers manager Walter Smith:
“In the sense that we had to play the majority of the game with 10 men, we’ve got to be happy enough that we managed to get the point
I didn’t think Pedro Mendes’ first booking was a booking. I felt it was a rather innocuous challenge in the first place.
When you do get a yellow card then you’re on a bit of thin ice, you’ve got to watch what you’re doing and I wasn’t sure about the second one either. I didn’t think they were bad fouls.
The referee’s got to do what he sees as the right thing to do. He did that.
Kilmarnock had the best of the opportunities to win the game.
We’re disappointed with the game turned over all but not unhappy with the point.
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