Penalty theory hatched after Rangers told they got away with 'absolute shocker' as Michael Stewart rages

Danny Rohl has provided his verdict after Rangers scrapped to a 2-1 win over Livingston - with counterpart David Martindale fuming over a contentious penalty decision.

Goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande sealed a narrow win for the Light Blues and a fourth in succession on Premiership business for new boss Rohl, but it wasn’t easy. Tete Yengi had levelled for Livi and they missed another big chance at 1-1 that goalkeeper Jack Butlins had to deny, but penalty fury has arisen.

Fernandez looked to have handled the ball inside the Rangers penalty box just before the half-hour mark but referee Ross Hardie didn’t give a penalty, and VAR official John Beaton agreed with the on field call. Livi boss Martindale has been left angry, and hatched a theory on the penalty call, that Livingston would have had it given against them.

Verdict on possible penalty against Rangers vs Livingston

He told Sportsound: "I don't know where to go with the handball decision. It hits his arm, it's going on target, could be a goal. I'd like Willie [Collum] to phone me and explain that one. It's not his fault but the technology is not being used properly if that's not a penalty. I know if that's at Livingston and against us, that's a penalty against us. It's a penalty, nobody will change my mind on that."

Pundit Michael Stewart was on the show and demanded an inquest from head of referees, Willie Collum. The outspoken former midfielder said: “I’ve just seen that incident at Ibrox, how on earth can VAR justify not giving that.

“That is unfathomable that VAR has looked at that and said ‘nah, nah nah’. His arm is outstretched, it is on target, that is outrageous from VAR. Will Willie Collum be apologising to the next club this week, because that is a shocker, an absolute shocker.”

Danny Rohl on Rangers 2-1 Livingston

For Ibrox boss Rohl, the focus was on performance, with his squad marred by injuries. He added: "It was a hard-work performance and a hard-work victory. After the goal we start to not concentrate enough and the opponents go behind with a long ball - it was too easy.

"We changed small details at half-time. We are pleased to have the win and that's the most important. We told the players at half-time we have to do more, invest more, need more runs without the ball. We will analyse the game as always and then go again.”

He added with club media: “I am very happy with the three points, I think it was a hard-fought victory and it was not easy. Before we went 1-0 up, we were good in the game, we played fast, exciting football, and then we slowed down, and we weren’t clinical with some of our decision-making. At 1-1 we lifted our opponent, and then it is tough to play against a deep block, and you have to play fast and attack the last line more. We changed things at half-time and I was happy with the impact players as they gave us a lift, which is good.”