Crawford Allan’s penalty pattern as Hibs v Sevco is examined

Crawford Allan looks like bowing out of Scottish refereeing in style.

Since his departure was announced, curiously timed between Brendan Rodgers being served with a Notice of Complaint and the actual hearing, his appointments have been telling.

With Hibs visiting Ibrox yesterday it certainly wasn’t the fixture to hand to Willie Collum, in SPFL exile since the message wet out from the Heart & Hand podcast.

For the third time since the winter break Allan turned to David Dickinson, cheered on by his family and friends at Ibrox. For extra insurance Andrew Dallas was on VAR, in the 20th minute the dynamic duo delivered where none of Philippe Clement’s players could.

This time Tavpen failed to find the net but it did get a reaction, the home side were soon in front and on their way to another three points.

Rangers have had 6 penalties in games against Hibs since December 2021.

0-0 85th min (Dec 2021)
O-0 5th min (Feb 2022)
0-0 44th min (Aug 2022)
0-1 12th min (March 2023)
0-0 23rd min (March 2024)
0-0 19th min (March 2024)

Hibs have had zero v Rangers in that time (see below) pic.twitter.com/xV7opoAZkP

— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 30, 2024

As everyone in football knows the first goal is the most important, getting a penalty at 0-0 is priceless while one when you are three or four goals up is academic.

Three days after being hit with an SFA touchline ban Brendan Rodgers will have to watch his side being refereed by Don Robertson at Livingston today.

As we now know the real power lies with VAR, today Alan Muir will be watching the action while tuned in to his favourite internet forums. In 2015 Muir was behind the goal at Hampden when Josh Meekings escaped any punishment when he used his arm to block a header from Leigh Griffiths in a Scottish Cup semi-final, that decision ensured him of almost a decade of top flight appointments and benefits.

On Tuesday Allan will announce the officials for the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox with John Beaton the favourite to be in charge with Nick Walsh his closest challenger.

Hibs have been denied about 10 stonewallers over that period of games

— Ecky MacThump Yes Biker ??????? (@EuroScot2021) March 30, 2024

It’s undeniable when you see it like that. Some of them are pens to be fair. How many soft ones though? Compared to the ones we’ve not had? It’s not even. There’s no denying it.

— Liam Blues (@liamblues) March 30, 2024