Dickinson and Dallas to the rescue as Ibrox star avoids red card

It was David Dickinson and Andrew Dallas to the rescue for Philippe Clement at Rugby Park on Wednesday night.

Trailing 1-0 to Kilmarnock there was a moment for Mohammed Diomande as he realised that he was slightly short with his backpass to Jack Butland.

Almost as soon as he had hit the ball the on loan midfielder knew that he had put his side in trouble, as a Kilmarnock forward raced past him Diomande pulled briefly on his opponent, enough to gain a second for Butland who cleared the ball to safety.

It was obvious that the Kilmarnock player had been checked, that a potential goalscoring opportunity had been denied that a red card was the consequence but well aware of the stakes involved for their favourite club Dickinson on the pitch looked the other way while Dallas on VAR refused to get involved.

Goals from James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence early in the second half turned the game around, whether they could have done that with 10 men is debatable.

Alan Muir will referee tomorrow’s match at home to Motherwell with Euan Anderson on VAR, in 10 SPFL matches since the Ibrox statement about Willie Collum the Lanarkshire official hasn’t been appointed as a referee, Fourth Official or VAR.

This year alone Muir has refereed the Scottish Cup tie at Dumbarton and the SPFL match at home to Ross County, the Motherwell match will be his third involving Clement’s side in 42 days. Collum will be in charge of Airdrie United v Queens Park.