John Beaton received praise for his game management as Rangers defeated Hearts 3-1 at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Philippe Clement relieved some of the strain on him at Rangers by gaining three points in the most scrappy manner possible in the capital.
Jamie McCart scored two own goals each side of Vaclav Cerny’s goal, but home fans felt they should have had a penalty earlier in the game when it was goalless.
Ianis Hagi booked appropriately in Rangers’ triumph against Hearts – Keith Hackett.
In the 17th minute, a Blair Spittal pass across the box seemed to strike Mohamed Diomande’s hand after the ball bounced off his boots.
Previously, James Wilson was left on the deck after a tough challenge by Ianis Hagi.
Beaton gave Hearts the edge, and when the ball entered a neutral part of the field, he halted play and issued a yellow card to the Romanian.
Keith Hackett, a former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee, was pleased with Beaton’s refereeing and believes the whistler was correct not to give a penalty for the Diomande handball.
“It was an outstanding piece of officiating to apply an advantage and then go back and correctly going back and cautioning,” Hackett told the Ibrox News network.
“It wasn’t a handball for me.
“Well done the referee.”
Beaton shines as Rangers return to winning ways.
It’s satisfying to sit and say that a referee performed admirably in a Ranger game.
Beaton appeared to get numerous instances in the game exactly right, including one in which Clinton Nsiala pushed Wilson over in the buildup to Cerny’s goal.
While Nsiala made contact with the Hearts striker, there was insufficient touch to restart play and give the home side a penalty kick.
Rangers’ victory over Hearts was hard-fought, and Neil Critchley’s side were certainly the better team.
While that victory would not fully eliminate concerns regarding Clement’s future, it will undoubtedly give him an extra week or two until the Light Blues ultimately release the unpopular Belgian.
