Rangers skipper James Tavernier hit out at team-mate Alfredo Morelos as he branded the striker’s red card “stupid” as the Light Blues tossed away two Scottish Premiership points after being reduced to nine men against Hibs at Easter Road.
Morelos was sent off just 13 minutes after being introduced for Antonio Colak and he followed John Lundstram who had been dismissed earlier. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men were leading 2-1 but the home side netted an injury time leveller. And Tavernier, who opened the scoring late in the first half from the penalty spot, admitted Morelos was at fault for his early bath after raising his arm to Marijan Cabraja. Tavernier told Rangers TV : “Alfredo's one is stupid. He's going to ask questions. We put ourselves on the back foot and I thought the character we have shown (was good).
“I’m disappointed, angry. Some of the decision-making in the game maybe cost us. We take the lead in the first half and created some chances. Second half we conceded a sloppy goal then put ourselves ahead only to see a decision to be made on us which we thought was a challenge in the first half. It's a simple trip and he gets a red card which turns it in their favour.”
The result ends Rangers’ perfect start to the Scottish Premiership campaign but they must pick themselves up for their Champions League playoff return leg against PSV Eindhoven in Holland after a 2-2 draw at Ibrox. The captain said: “It's obviously disappointing to lose a goal near the end. We tried to do everything possible but we obviously leave here with a point. Disappointed, but we have to look forward to Wednesday now. We want to bring Champions League football back to Ibrox. We will go over there and do everything possible to try to achieve that.”
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