Goodwin

By Graham Barnstaple
December 18 2011

Rangers kept the pressure on Celtic once again, despite struggling to beat Inverness at home on Saturday.

The home side took the lead just after the break thanks to a strike from Bocanegra,Invernessequalised through a goal from Andrew Shinnie before a late strike from Lafferty sealed the points.

The talk after the game was all about the penalty decisions whichInvernesswere not awarded. Firstly when Jelavic appeared to handle and then when McKay was bundled over by Bartley.

Having said thatInvernesshad enough great chances to take something from the game, with McKay rounding McGregor only to shoot into the side netting and Wallace clearing a Hayes shot off the line.

It was still enough for Rangers to take all three points and put pressure on Celtic ahead of their game with St. Johnstone this afternoon.

It is also a shame much of the talk after the game is about refereeing decisions, but this was also the case atFirParkand Pittodrie.

Motherwell and St. Mirren served up an entertaining clash atFirParkwith both sides playing open attacking football. Well took the lead through Higdon header and Saints equalised through a stunning 25 yard shot from Goodwin.

One of the major talking points in the game was a penalty that never was for Saints.Hutchinsonfouled Tessalaar in the box and Calum Murray pointed to the spot before he spotted an offside decision from his linesman. TV pictures have shown this was a poor decision with the Saints man being well onside.

This capped off a performance which was inconsistent and fussy throughout, it’s a pity the compliance officer can’t have a look at this and suspend the referee!!

AtAberdeenthere were two big decisions made by Craig Thomson and it looks as though he got both wrong. He firstly awarded a penalty when it looked as though Pawlett may have dived, and then he sent the same player off and this too looked a soft decision. The compliance officer will no doubt be involved in this one!!

Scott Vernon scored form the penalty decision to make it two successive wins for the Dons.