Dermot Gallagher dumbfounded by Rangers penalty fortune as stunned ref wonders 'how lucky can you get?'

Dermot Gallagher has deemed Cyriel Dessers a lucky Rangers man after a penalty shout for Motherwell was waved away on Sunday.

The former whistler has made the Ibrox luck admission at a time they stand games away from two years without conceding a penalty in league. Early goals from Kieran Dowell and Todd Cantwell ended the Christmas Eve clash at Fir Park before it really ever got going as Philippe Clement's side won 2-0. But a flashpoint in the second half has been a talking point in an otherwise quiet game's aftermath.

A cross into the Rangers penalty box looked like it was making its way to Mika Biereth to have a shot at Jack Butland's goal, and 'Well boss Stuart Kettlewell was angry that a 'pull' by Dessers wasn't spotted. Replays show the striker tangling with the Motherwell talisman who eventually hit the deck, but referee David Dickinson and VAR didn't see anything wrong. That has shocked former Premier League ref Gallagher, who insists his surprise comes from the amount of similar incidents that have resulted in spot-kicks.

He told Ref Watch: "How lucky can you get? He clearly pulls him back, Dessers. It doesn't get picked up by the referee or VAR which is surprising because in Scotland, all of these have been given of late."

Kettlewell said post-match: "The one that was brought to my attention from our analyst is the pull on Mika Biereth's arm. Backpost he looks favourite to get a touch on the ball. I am seeing them given as penalties constantly. I think Rangers themselves have benefited from a number of incidents like that. But my question is are we actually checking them? We keep getting told everything is being checked. I am not sure if that one has been specifically checked as I would defy anybody to tell me