DAVID Marshall has leapt to the defence of Willie Collum and stated the under-fire referee got all three big decisions correct in Hibernian’s game against Rangers at Easter Road on Saturday.
Collum has been savaged by fans of both teams as well as media pundits for his controversial handling of the incendiary cinch Premiership match in Leith.
He awarded the visitors a penalty in the first-half for a Rocky Bushiri challenge on Antonio Colak and then sent off both John Lundstram and Alfredo Morelos in the second.
Ibrox manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed afterwards that Rangers would appeal to the SFA against the Lundstram red card.
However, 47-times capped Scotland goalkeeper Marshall reckoned the match official got all of his important calls right – including the disputed spot kick he gave against his Hibs team.
The vastly-experienced former internationalist, who has spent the past 15 years plying his trade in English football, stressed that players must be far smarter to avoid punishment in the modern game.
Asked about the penalty, the Hibs captain said: “You can’t argue, really, can you? Rocky’s got his hands on the striker, so, yeah, there’s no argument.
“Put it this way, if it’s not given, I don’t think Rangers are up in arms, but it’s still hands on the player.
“Yes, the ball was coming straight to me, but I think we are in a different era now. I think you have to realise these things can happen and you have to defend smarter.
“Listen, it’s a contact sport and anyone who has been watching football for years knows that maybe 10 years ago that was never a penalty. But, like I say, it’s a changed game now.
“Obviously, we’ve got VAR coming in, so these things will get picked up. It might help clear things up. But I think that is why we watch football. Everybody has got an opinion. I wouldn’t be arguing the referee had a poor game anyway.”
Marshall added: “There is still interpretation there. Some people won’t think it’s a pen, some people will. I suppose you are getting a final decision anyway.
“Red card, red card, there is no point in arguing. With the Morelos red you can’t really argue because the movement of the arm is there. With Lundstram, you have expected a booking because he has done it.
“But, as I say, the game has moved on, you have to be careful if you are tackling people from behind and are not intentionally getting the ball. Aye, there are still going to be arguments.
“But I looked at back all three and I couldn’t argue that any of them were wrong. Are they soft? Yeah, maybe, potentially. But the game has changed and you have to be smarter on the pitch.”
