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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

James Tavernier gets unanimous Rangers penalty verdict as pundits align with one word Dundee defence

Sportscene pundits unanimously agreed that Rangers were awarded a "soft" penalty in the win over Dundee.

Gio van Bronckhorst's men eased into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win at Dens Park.

But it was the second goal that that left assistant Dundee boss Simon Rusk questioning referee Steven McLean.

Ryan Sweeney made contact with James Tavernier in the box with the whistler pointing to the penalty spot.

The Ibrox skipper duly stepped up to thump the ball into the net, but in the post-match breakdown Rusk reckoned it looked like a soft call.

He was backed up by former Rangers defender Alan Hutton, who conceded the decision could have gone either way.

Hutton told the programme: "It's one of those ones where he (Tavernier) does get the ball out of his feet. He manipulates it well, and then Sweeney does block it off.

"It does look a bit soft. It's in the soft variety."

James McPake stood by his former player, as ex-Dens Park gaffer insists he wasn't sure where Sweeney could have went.

McPake chimed in: "Initially I just thought what can Ryan Sweeney do? He can't just disappear and get out the way.

"When you see the angle from behind, he does slightly move towards him and he gives the referee a decision to make.

"It is of the soft variety. He will be disappointed with it, but the penalty is an unbelievable finish."

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