Ryan Kent Rangers penalty call splits the pundits as Hibs punishment branded 'cheap' after VAR steps in

Hibs defender CJ Egan-Riley has been offered a defence after the defender was punished for a foul on Rangers star Ryan Kent in the box following a VAR check.

Michael Beale's men romped to a convincing 4-1 victory at Easter Road after suriving an early scare when Matthew Hoppe's cross was sent into the Rangers net by Connor Goldson. Despite Lee Johnson's side netting the opener, the visitors were quickly back on level terms when Kent was tripped in the box by a sliding Egan-Riley.

Referee Don Robertson initially waved away the claims from the winger for a penalty, but David Dickinson in the VAR room sent the man in the middle to the monitor to review the flashpoint. Following the check whistler Robertson would point to the spot allow James Tavernier to step up to the spot and level the game, setting the Light Blues on their way to a convincing victory.

However, speaking on the PLZ Football Show Alan Rough claimed that the decision was harsh. The former Hibs goalkeeper said: "I didn't think it was a penalty. I think it was an accident and both of them slid and the two feet came together.

"It's a cheap penalty. I hate cheap penalties. It annoys me that you get a penalty for that now. If somebody dives in and takes the legs away from them and it's a goalscoring opporuntity you can understand it.

"The two of them went in and the Hibs boy slid in. He hasn't deliberately tripped him up, it's accidental contact with the two boots."

That was in contrast to the BBC Sportscene pundits - with both Leanne Crichton and James McFadden insisting the call was clear cut. Crichton said: "I don't think you can dispute it too much.

"You need to credit the positive play from Sakala and Ryan Kent does what he does often and chops back