Martindale cites “three or four” Rangers stars in “guarantee” claim

Livingston manager David Martindale claims “three or four” Rangers stars admitted referee Willie Collum was wrong to let Abdallah Sima’s opener stand at Ibrox.

The Premiership rival was left incensed when the Senegalese attacker’s neatly placed opener in the 4-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox was allowed to stand.

This was after Abdallah Sima robbed Jamie Brandon at the edge of the Livingston box before curling home to set Rangers on their way in the League Cup quarter final at Ibrox.

David Martindale also claims he can “pretty much guarantee” that if the roles were reversed, Livingston would never have been awarded a goal against Rangers.

David Martindale: Rangers players agree goal shouldn’t have stood

“The first goal is the game changer when you came away to Ibrox, Parkhead, the big clubs, it’s really really difficult,” David Martindale told LivingstonTV after the defeat to Rangers.

“The first goal changes the dynamic of the game and it is a foul on Jamie. I can say more here than I can on TV, it’s a blatant foul.

“I’m not going to tell you who I spoke to, I spoke to three of four Rangers players and they’re all saying the same thing – ‘can’t believe the goal was given, can’t believe that it wasn’t a foul’.

“Now I can pretty much guarantee we’re not getting that if it’s at the other end of the park.”

The Abdallah Sima goal set Rangers on their way and the club would eventually go on to win by four clears goals courtesy of strikes from Ridvan Yilmaz, Luiyi de Lucas (OG) and Ryan Jack.

Whilst David Martindale might moan, the goal certainly has shades of that disallowed Kemar Roofe goal v Celtic a few weeks.

And if this was an attempt by the referees union to try and even up the score, they needn’t have bothered.

The damage was already done by Don Robertson when a just goal – a hell of a lot softer than this one – was wiped out at Ibrox.