Watch Willie Collum’s three gifts to Tavpen

Every one of Crawford Allan’s referees enjoy the attention and spotlight, even the notoriety of having the cameras on them. None more than Willie Collum.

The Lanarkshire based referee likes nothing more than flashing a red card at some errant player or dramatically pointing to the penalty spot for an incident that only he has witnessed.

Famously in 2010 he awarded a penalty against Celtic with his back to play. That sort of decisive action ensured more than a decade of leading domestic appointments topped up by lucrative foreign jollys.

Promoted way beyond his ability Collum found himself at Euro 2016 in France, after taking charge of two group matches he was sent packing and has been watching the big competitions from his sofa following a polite no thanks from UEFA despite the lobbying of Hugh Dallas.

Back in August, after awarding the softest of penalties for contact on Antonio Colak, Collum sent off two of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men in a 2-2 draw with Hibs. News of anger from inside Ibrox to the SFA was quickly leaked.

With that reminder of what is expected Collum was back in charge of the Ibrox side in January at home to St Johnstone where he completed a Full House of honest mistakes. Nicky Clark was sent off, Ryan Jack wasn’t and Tavpen added to his tally from his favourite distance.

Yesterday against Kilmarnock it was much the same, Tavpen made it 3-0 just before half-time, taking no chances Killie were denied a far clearer penalty in the 47^th minute when Allan McGregor wiped out Rory McKenzie.

So far this season Nick Walsh has refereed two Glasgow derbies with John Beaton getting the other. It looks like Collum is building a strong case to be in the spotlight on April 8.