Kenny Miller found himself taken aback by the intense display of anger exhibited by referee Willie Collum towards the Rangers players during their thrilling defeat against Celtic. Broadcasting live on Sky Sports on the 11th of May, the former Rangers and Celtic striker expressed his surprise as Collum reprimanded Mohamed Diomande right before half time in Celtic’s 2-1 victory.
The tense moment unfolded shortly after Collum handed a straight red card to John Lundstram following a VAR review of a rash challenge on Alistair Johnston. Miller, observing the scene, couldn’t help but question Collum’s aggressive demeanor, wondering why the referee seemed on the verge of confrontation with the players instead of calmly communicating with them.
While some may have disagreed with Collum’s decision to upgrade Lundstram’s booking to a red card just before the break, Miller’s criticism perhaps stemmed from his disagreement with the call. Nevertheless, Collum’s unexpected outburst towards Diomande added to the tension of the match.
Collum, previously embroiled in controversy during Rangers’ earlier visit to Parkhead, faced more scrutiny for his swift dismissal of penalty claims against Johnston back in December. Despite some questionable decisions, including a contentious penalty awarded to Celtic, it was ultimately Rangers’ own shortcomings that led to their defeat and likely dashed any hopes of a title challenge.
The match saw standout performances from players like Jack Butland, who saved a penalty and a lackluster showing from Lundstram and Diomande. The midfield battle was notably lost by Rangers, with Tom Lawrence, in particular, failing to make an impact. Dujon Sterling’s strong display highlighted potential missed opportunities in team selection, with the choice of starting lineup raising questions.
Rangers’ slow start and struggles to recover after conceding early goals proved costly, with their improved second-half showing falling short of salvaging the match. Despite Cyriel Dessers’ goal offering a glimmer of hope, Rangers were unable to overcome the challenges posed by Celtic in their defeat.
