Jack Butland escapes Rangers 'mess' with Motherwell no goal as Tony Watt 'lean' sparks VAR defence

Jack Butland has been told he was "extremely fortunate" that a foul was awarded after the Rangers star punched the ball into his own net against Motherwell.

Philippe Clement's struggling side were rescued by substitute Hamza Igamane's double after a dismal first half display saw the Steelmen take a lead into the break thanks to goals from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Tawanda Maswanhise. But before the Moroccan's second to level the game at Fir Park, Motherwell thought they had extended their lead when the Rangers No. 1 bundled the ball into his own net.

Under pressure from Tony Watt at a corner, the England cap failed to get a strong punch to the cross and thumped the ball into his own net. Referee Kevin Clancy blew his whistle for a free-kick against Watt before Steven McLean in the VAR room backed up the man in the middle. But baffled James McFadden couldn't understand the decision. He told Sky Sports: “As you can see Jack Butland pushes him out. Tony Watt, for me, is entitled to go and challenge for the ball.

"I don’t think he does an awful lot to make Jack Butland punch it into the net. I think that is extremely, extremely fortunate. He makes a mess of it and punches it into his own net.”

Pressed on if it’s the nature of the game, he said: “You are as well not letting strikers go in the six yard box and just come and catch it. I think it should be a goal.”

On commentary, former Rangers' man Neil McCann offered a defence of the officials as he pinpointed Watt's sin. He said: “Tony Watt just leans in. He’s got a hand across Jack Butland possibly.

"A lot of people may say that goalkeeper’s get too much protection and I don’t think Jack Butland covers himself in glory here - he actually punches that into the net. In