SCOTT WRIGHT’s Ibrox goal was disallowed as a result of a new SFA ruling that all encroachment at penalties MUST be punished.
SunSport can reveal officials were instructed by Hampden bosses two months ago that encroachment should be penalised – even if an attacker’s boot is only touching the line of the penalty-box.
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Wright was penalised before firing home after James Tavernier’s penalty was saved by David Marshall – but boss Philippe Clement made a joke of the decision.
He grinned: “We scored three and it might have been four – but we were unlucky because apparently Scott Wright’s boots are a bit too big!”
Meanwhile, Tavernier spoke of his pride at becoming the U.K.’s all-time top scoring defender – then blamed his WIFE for his missed Ibrox penalty.
Tavernier scored his 131st career goal – passing former Scotland defender Graham Alexander’s record – in the 3-1 victory over Hibs that took his side to the top of the table.
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He’d earlier seen a spot-kick saved by Marshall – and said it was because his wife tipped him off about how to take it.
He said: “It was an important three points and I was pleased with my goal.
“It was a good strike and it needed to be after the penalty!
“I listened to my wife on where to put the ball. She said just go down the middle and you’re guaranteed a goal.
“It didn’t go in so she’s getting the blame for that one.
“I had to respond after that and I was glad I did.
“The record is crazy. If you’d told me when I first jumped into professional football that I would have a chance to become the highest-scoring British defender in history I wouldn’t have believed you.
“It’s down to all the teammates I have played with over the years, who have helped me through the journey.
“I’ll just continue working hard and see how many I can get until I hang my boots up – a long way down the line.”
Tavernier gave Gers fans a scare when he went down near the end of the win but he admitted: “I had three teeth taken out at the start of the week so I’ve only been on soup and mashed potatoes.
“I’ve not had the best diet but it was only a bit of cramp.
“Today I thought we could have performed a bit better defensively in the first-half.
“There were too many gaps but I was delighted with the way we responded when we conceded the goal before half-time.
“I think that was the only chance they had in the game.
“Then we managed the game well, and could’ve scored a couple more goals.
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“I was delighted to see players coming back into the team fit and healthy. It’s good to have Abdallah back and Rabbi on the scoresheet.
“The gaffer said he’s going to have a headache for selection and that’s what you want as a captain.
“You want everybody to push each other on.
“Day to day we’ve been working on that mentality to be winners. It’s showing in the way we’re performing.
“We’re never looking back, we’re always looking forward to bounce back if need be.
“Hibs are a good footballing team, they like to play and their threat is the pace up front. It was key to manage that and we did it really well.”
Boss Clement also paid tribute to his skipper as he reached the landmark for a defender.
He said: “It’s an amazing achievement, especially as he still has a couple of years to go so he can only make this record bigger.
“If you speak about the full history of football then you cannot imagine how many good defenders there have been, how many defenders with good attacking qualities who have played the game.
“To be there on top is an amazing achievement and we’re all proud of him.
“I said it in the dressing room after the game. I don’t often point out individual players, I don’t like to do it too much, but I had to do it this time.
“All the players are really proud of him, all the staff and the fans and everybody involved with Rangers.
“It’s really quite exceptional.
“He missed the penalty but responded and he’s not the only one who has that mindset to bounce back.
“The whole team is now thinking that way – the past is finished and it’s now just about the next action every time, your belief, desire and hunger in yourself and in your teammates.
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“That way we have come back in a lot of situations in these last couple of months.
“This mindset is now in all the squad.
“I also pointed out in the dressing-room that I was really happy with Rabbi’s goal.
“For me it was one of his biggest working parts – to keep control of his shots.
“In the past he missed too many chances by shooting wildly and this time he had control to put it in the corner.
“He’s been working hard on that over the last couple of months and I’ve seen more goals like that from him in training.
“There’s still margin to grow with this squad, both physically and technically and I keep an eye on the guys who want to do it every day, who want to do extra after training because they want to become better.”
And Clement admitted he has a selection headache for next week’s Old Firm game with neither Kemar Roofe nor Kieran Dowell making the squad yesterday.
He said: “We had depth today and players to choose from. Kemar and Kieran did a good job in training but weren’t selected.
“They were unlucky but after injuries they’re not ready to play for 90 minutes so I had to find a balance.
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“I couldn’t have half of my selection that was unable to play for 90 minutes.”
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