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‘How convenient’ ‘penalties are not allowed’ ‘Surprise surprise..’ SSB fans react to St Johnstone penalty u-turn

Photo of Joe McHugh Joe McHugh | 14:31 22/04/21
Image for ‘How convenient’ ‘penalties are not allowed’ ‘Surprise surprise..’ SSB fans react to St Johnstone penalty u-turn

It was an incident that summed up what is most certainly an unprecedented season in Scottish football. The only explanation being that Steven Gerrard’s side were playing against a team in blue shirts.

Shortly after putting his side into the lead against St Johnstone Scott Wright stuck out his arm to prevent a cross in the penalty area from reaching an unmarked opponent.

Instinctively Euan Anderson, by day a school-teacher at Clydebank High, pointed to the penalty spot before realising the enormity of his decision.

In 34 previous matches this season no referee had given a penalty against the Ibrox club. Anderson’s assistant, Frank Connor kept his flag down.

As Liam Craig prepared to take the penalty Anderson remembered the DOUGIE DOUGIE scenario from Tannadice in 2010.

The match referee ran towards his assistant, feigned some sort of consultation then came back into the penalty box and awarded a goal-kick to the club from Ibrox.

In the 94th minute Anderson did award St Johnstone a penalty but had he awarded one half an hour earlier he might have been responsible for the first SPFL Premiership defeat of the season.

Alan Muit will referee the two sides when they meet again at Ibrox on Sunday.

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Joe McHugh

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