Scott Brown claims Rangers red was NEVER going to be given by Willie Collum and lands one on 'scared' Ibrox fans

Scott Brown says ref Willie Collum was NEVER going to give Rangers star Fabio Silva a red card in Ayr United’s Scottish Cup defeat at Ibrox.

The former Celtic captain saw his Honest Men lose 2-0 in the last 16 tie, as goals from Borna Barisic and Silva sealed the win for Gers. Collum had a big call to make in the second half at 1-0 when Silva caught Ayr defender George Stanger with a late challenge.

The Portuguese striker had already been booked but Collum let him off the hook. Brown is adamant Silva should have walked but says he knew the whistler wasn’t going to produce a red under pressure in Govan. Afterwards, the Ayr boss - who got a yellow card for his protests - said: “I knew he was never going to get sent off, that it was never going to be a red card.

"I think if it had been the other way around it could have been. It was the pressure (on the ref), coming into these big occasions. Some people can deal with it, some people can’t

“Willie is used to giving me yellow cards. I think he has missed me! There was no point asking him about it, it didn't change anything. I was disappointed at the time and Silva goes on and scores the goal. So it is a harsh lesson for us.

“The second goal comes from a man who shouldn’t be on the park. It was a big decision, a pressure decision and it probably wasn’t the right one.”

And while speaking to Viaplay he couldn't resist a cheeky swipe at Rangers - declaring the fans "scared" of him during the Scottish Cup clash. Asked how he found the return to Ibrox by host Emma Dodds, Brown looked around as if mystified by the question.

He then calmly quipped: "It was fine." Alan Hutton then pressed him on his reaction to the Rangers fans - saying it looked like he had a "good time."

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