Fuming Hibs boss Lee Johnson has taken aim at Alan Muir as he claimed the referee awarded a "soft" foul to Rangers in the build up to the opening goal at Easter Road.
CJ Egan-Riley was penalised for a foul on Todd Cantwell on the left flank by whistler Muir as he attempted to muscle the Ibrox forward off the ball with the Scottish Premiership clash still goalless. That allowed captain James Tavernier to curl a free-kick beyond David Marshall as the veteran goalkeeper failed to deal with the whipped ball in.
Ianis Hagi and Cantwell would add to the goal tally for Michael Beale's men in Leith before Paul Hanlon netted a late consolation for the visitors, but Johnson was less than impressed by the official after the full-time whistle. The Englishman said post-match: "Any first goal is really important, and we didn't think it was a foul at all. I don't know if you guys have looked at it back but it's a very soft one.
"CJ reads it, Cantwell cuts back inside and CJ just gets his body in between the man and the ball which is good defending. But the referee wanted to give those all day and was very quick to blow the whistle for that one. Obviously he believed it was a foul."
The Sky Sports pundits were spilt on the decision from the man in the middle - but Johnson did find an ally in James McFadden. He said: "I don't know if I'm the only one, but I think it's extremely soft."
Rangers hero Kris Boyd cut in added: "You are the only one." However, an undeterred McFadden went on: "I don't think it is. I think Egan-Riley stands his ground.
"The hands do come out but Cantwell goes down far too easily for me. The referee buys it."
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