Rangers star Leon King should have seen red for high tackle on McKinstry, says Motherwell boss

Motherwell boss Steven Hammell insists Rangers defender Leon King should have been sent off in their defeat to the Ibrox side.

The 18-year-old brought down Stuart McKinstry to deny him a goalscoring opportunity as the Steelmen chased a late equaliser at Fir Park, but Hammell feels it is the force of the teenager's tackle on the winger that warranted a red card.

Rangers walked away with all three points as second half efforts from Malik Tillman and John Lundstrum were enough to see off Motherwell, who had pulled a goal back through a McKinstry free-kick 13 minutes from time.

But Hammell wasn't impressed by referee David Dickinson's decision to only give King a booking.

He said: "I think it is a red card.

"Not for where it is on the pitch and where Stuart is going - that is up for debate - but I think the actual tackle in isolation is poor.

"I think he catches him high and there is a lot of force in it.

"I think Stuart is lucky not to come away with an injury on the back of it.

"It is a poor tackle."

Hammell knows that is not where the game was won and lost and slammed his side's defending at both Rangers goals.

Tillman was allowed to run from inside his own half and past five Motherwell players before slotting past Kelly for the opener, while Lundstrum snuk in at the front post to send a deflected header into the net.

"It's frustrating and disappointing," Hammell sighed.

"I think we put a lot into the game but the goals we concede are not good enough.

"It's too cheap. It's big moments in the game and fine details that win and lose matches at this level.

"It's something we need to get better at quickly.

"It's clear to see. You don't need to be an expert or a professional to understand where the problems were with that.

"Fr