There's nothing like the calm after the storm when everyone takes a moment to catch their breath and reflect on the match they’ve just witnessed.
And today’s Hotline is nothing like the calm after the storm.
In fact it was a seething, foaming maelstrom of anger and accusation – almost all of it aimed in the direction of Pittodrie after yet another explosive Aberdeen vs Rangers clash.
Scott Brown copped most of the flak from the Rangers support but referee Kevin Clancy wasn’t far behind him in the unpopularity stakes.
Stuart McLeod, Stepps, added: “Poor performance from Rangers and they certainly missed Joe Aribo. However, Clancy showed he doesn’t have the ability to referee a match on his own, continually taking directives from Scott Brown. Both had a good old laugh and joke whilst leaving the field. Kevin was probably asking for marks out of 10 from Brown.”
George Wilson, West Sussex, emailed: “Aberdeen players should be ashamed of themselves once again for putting in their customary fighting performance against Rangers then it will be back to the normal garbage against everyone else.
“Referee Clancy was a disgrace as usual and Scott Brown did his best to get Morelos sent off but managed instead to con Clancy - which isn’t difficult - by getting Kent sent off then openly mocking him afterwards.
“Scott, you are a true gentleman and a sport. Not sure if Brown or Clancy was the bigger disgrace. Not a great performance by a below strength Rangers who only deserved a point but still a good point and still well clear of Celtic whose deluded supporters are now boasting of players who play like Iniesta. I could play like Iniesta against a poor Hibs team and I’ve been retired for years.”
Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, added: “Does Brown like playing the fool? Imagine waving bye bye to a fellow professional being sent off. Disgusting act.”
Chris McMenemy, Falkirk, said: "There are so many incidents last night to talk about, but I’ll narrow it down to one or two. Rangers have seen Candeias and Halliday sent off in recent years for gestures to the crowd. Surely the impartial compliance officer must give Brown an extra yellow for his unprofessional, childish taunts towards Kent, or is it just a one way street?
“Brown should’ve seen red instead of Kent, for his dramatic pole axing dive that got Kent his second yellow, not that Clancy needed any help or encouragement!”
Drew Ferguson, Oban, said: “As a Rangers fan, my fellow supporters will complain about the antics of Scott Brown as the man clearly has some excellent acting ability. But sadly that is part of the game and he is good at it but a good referee will see it for what it is. I am sure Mr Clancy will see Kent’s second yellow was very, very soft and not even a foul as well as missing the ball moving at the penalty. But at the end of the day, Rangers need to be better than they were on Tuesday.”
Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, emailed: “Surely Clancy can never officiate another match? The official, according to Aberdeen’s manager Stephen Glass, said he saw the ball moving at the penalty.
“The fact, after such an admission, that the laws of the game regarding a moving ball were not applied tells a major story.
“Well done to Aberdeen on trying again against Rangers. It’s a pity that the team does not perform that way against every team and should they be involved in a relegation battle it’s their own fault for not applying the same aptitude in other matches as they do against Rangers.”
John Bruce said: “On Monday we saw a passive Hibs play Celtic - unlike Hibs teams that play against Rangers. On Tuesday we saw a fired-up Aberdeen play Rangers - unlike Aberdeen teams that play against Celtic.
“Aberdeen battled for every ball and constantly fought to break up play. Scott Brown feigned injury to have Ryan Kent sent off and Johnny Hayes elbowed Borna Barisic, leaving him bleeding. When was the last time Aberdeen showed this ‘commitment’ against Celtic?
“If proof was needed, the TV companies always choose the Rangers v Aberdeen/Hibs fixtures because they are ‘fiery’ clashes. When were these games against Celtic ever described as ‘fiery’? And why not?”
James Forsyth, Bellshill, said: “Has Scott Brown taken to wearing ice skates since joining Aberdeen? The amount of times he goes to ground when a player is near him is unreal.”
Eddie Easson, Ballingry, Fife emailed: “The Gio factor is now slipping. Rangers thought they had nothing better to do than turn up at Pittodrie and bring home the points.
“They forgot about Scott Brown. Nobody told Gio about him. He did what he does best - winding up his opponents. Ask Ryan Kent. Allan McGregor got away with one again but Rangers fans forgot this one when they were criticising referee Kevin Clancy.”
Gordon Ashley, Ayr, emailed: “This Rangers team faced no pressure last season in winning their training match title but all that has changed this year. They were totally bossed by an average Aberdeen team and the beads of cold sweat are starting to show on their foreheads as the new manager bounce comes to an end and Celtic grow stronger.”
Gordon Hendry, Ochiltree, didn’t quite see it like that. He said: “As a Rangers fan, I’m disappointed with the referee at Pittodrie. Whilst the experimental line up with five of our players missing obviously didn’t help, the decision to gift Aberdeen a penalty for a handball which should never have been given and the red card for Ryan Kent after Brown feigned injury and conned the ref didn’t help either. However, we’ll take the well deserved point and move on.”
Bill Waugh, Glasgow, reckoned Rangers benefited from Clancy’s decisions, saying: “According to Stephen Glass, the linesman said there wasn’t enough contact by McGregor on Hedges. Any contact is a penalty. Do you have to put a player in row Z before an award is made? Even Kris Boyd said it was a penalty.”
Pete Summers, Airdrie, emailed: “Not backing Gio is going to cost Rangers the Champions League money and the league. Any chance of getting two to three players that’ll go straight in the first team?”
And Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: “Rangers fans have a nerve moaning about the performance of ref Kevin Clancy in their match against Aberdeen. That’s one game. Non Old Firm clubs have had a lifetime of decisions going against them when they play either Celtic or Rangers.”
Finally, Ronnie Swan, Lochee, is not a happy Dundee United fan. He said: “Let’s keep this simple - I’m Mark Ogren, I spend a hundred grand on the league’s top scorer, Tony Watt, and the manager starts him on the bench and deflates everything around the transfer. I immediately pick up the phone and sack the manager.”
