Tom Lawrence 'huge' Rangers penalty risk raised by pundit as VAR offers reprieve

Tom Lawrence has been told he got away with one during Rangers victory over St Johnstone - with James McFadden adamant Steven MacLean's side could have had a spot kick.

Referee Nick Walsh and VAR were once again in the spotlight with a string of big calls at McDiarmid Park as Michael Beale's men ran out winners thanks to goals from Danilo and Rabbi Matondo. Saints forward Chris Kane in the thick. First there was a check to see if goalkeeper Jack Butland had tripped the attacker but it was waved away, before another check proved longer. Tom Lawrence was wrestling with Kane in the box and the St Johnstone star went tumbling, but Walsh and VAR official Gavin Duncan didn't deem it worthy of anything else.

Then Kemar Roofe had it in the net but Abdallah Sima was deemed offside in the build-up prior to him putting in the cross for the forward to find the net. But McFadden was quick to point out a fortunate escape for the Ibrox side during the Scottish Premiership showdown: "Chris Kane is trying to run away from Tom Lawrence.

"He does have a hold of him. Again, I don't know if it's one where Chris Kane is potentially looking for it. But you take a huge risk when you are pulling your opponent back in the box like that, I have seen them given for much, much less than that."

On the offside call as it was happening, McFadden explained: "I think (Oludare) Olufunwa is playing Sima when the ball comes in. But Sam McClelland has to clear it, he allows Sima to win the ball off him and Kemar Roofe puts it in the back of the net. None of that will count if he's offside. Look at Olufunwa, potentially playing him on for me."

And when the call did arrive, the former forward admitted: "Oh well, Olufunwa must step up at the right time. How