What Rangers goal row ref got RIGHT amid Cyriel Dessers controversy as St Johnstone told to drop one gripe

Neil McCann has insisted that Matthew MacDermid got the decision RIGHT to not award a free-kick against Cyriel Dessers before the striker scored against St Johnstone.

Saints were left fuming after their Premier Sports Cup tie with Rangers turned on a bizarre moment in the second half that saw MacDermid initially appear to stop play and give St Johnstone a free-kick before the frontman found the net at Hampden. However, the man in the middle was called over to the pitchside monitor by and after reviewing the flashpoint opted to let the goal stand.

The Perth side were left fuming with boss Craig Levein venting his frustration at the call following their Premier Sports Cup exit and the gesture from the ref before the strike. Record Sport understands the club have now demanded an explanation for the decision and want access to VAR’s audio recording. However, former Ibrox hero McCann reckons the club can have no gripes over Dessers being left off by the official.

However, he conceded that the gesture from MacDermid could have led to some players stopping before the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat at the national stadium. He told BBC Sportsound: “I saw another angle and it was a very clear picture of the referee - he does indicate that he is pointing for a free-kick.

"Craig [Levein] is right, he shouldn’t do that, but I am talking about referees being allowed to referee the game. I think they have got an easy out. In that situation, if he hasn’t blown the whistle, he has got it dead right.

"I don’t believe it was a free-kick after my second viewing of it. On my first-viewing I thought he gets bumped, but on my second viewing I don’t think there is enough in the contact. I think Dessers got goal side and he gets caught by