Former ref praises Dougie McDonald's Old Firm display
McDonald sent off Celtic captain Scott Brown in controversial circumstances
Former referee Kenny Clark told BBC Scotland that whistler Dougie McDonald had a "very good game" in Rangers' fiery Old Firm derby victory at Ibrox.
"Dougie had a very good game and maintained control well," Clark said.
McDonald sent off Celtic captain Scott Brown in the 66th minute after a tussle with Kyle Lafferty.
"What was Brown doing thrusting his head into Lafferty's chest? Lafferty was fortunate not to receive the yellow card for his part in it."
Referees had come under the spotlight last week after BBC Scotland revealed Celtic had discussed their concerns over some debatable decisions to the Scottish FA.
What he (Brown) was thinking of I just do not know. I certainly don't think that was the turning point in the game
Former referee Kenny Clark
McDonald, eager to put his stamp on the game, booked Madjid Bougherra and Marc-Antoine Fortune within the opening 10 minutes at Ibrox.
Speaking at half-time, former Grade One whistler Clark said: "Dougie, as I would've expected, has shown a calm air of authority. He was relaxed in the build-up and he's kept looking that way in the tense moments of the game.
"When he dealt with Bougherra for the first yellow card he was very strong; getting Kenny Miller out of his face, making it plain he was going to be the boss.
"Since then, it appears to me that the cautions have worked for him; the players have settled down and got on with the game, and aren't trying to challenge Dougie's authority in any way.
"In fairness to the players, up until now - they're also co-operating with the referee and are not getting involved in silly things.
"That may be the mark of respect Dougie has already won from them. In the second half, Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Landry N'Guemo have all had a few fouls in the midfield skirmishes. So they may be heading for cautions if they go at the same rate.
"Bougherra was worrying me a little not long after he was cautioned; with a couple of robust challenges. He needs to take care he doesn't do something silly.
"I'm sure Walter Smith will have a word with him. The last thing either side needs in a game like this is to go down to 10 men."
Dougie McDonald had his hands full in a fiery Old Firm clash
Brown was shown the red card in the 66th minute following an off-the-ball clash with Northern Ireland international Lafferty.
And, speaking after the game, Clark told BBC Scotland: "I understand people making comments about Kyle Lafferty, and I share their reservations that they have, and I would join them in criticism of him that he made a meal of it.
"But the question has to be: what was Scott Brown doing thrusting his head into Lafferty's chest?
"Lafferty was fortunate not to receive the yellow card for his part in it, but as far as I'm concerned, the laws of the game say to strike or attempt to strike an opponent (is an offence).
"It doesn't say it needs to be with your hand, your fist or anything like that. Brown deliberately stuck his head into Lafferty's chest.
"What he (Brown) was thinking of I just do not know. I certainly don't think that was the turning point in the game.
"Rangers seized the initiative at the start of the second half and Celtic never managed to take it back from them.
"There was mention made in the commentary that the assistant Gordon Middleton immediately put up his flag, but, to my mind, Dougie called that red card.
"I don't think for a minute that it was Gordon Middleton who called it.
"But, equally, assistants are under clear instructions that if they are 100% satisfied that the referee is calling a big decision like that wrongly, that they must intervene and say to the ref: 'hold on a minute, I don't know what you saw from your angle but I saw it differently.
"Gordon, therefore, has obviously shared Dougie's view about it being a red card offence.
"The same laws of the game apply to the Old Firm as apply to every other club and every other fixture."
Bougherra, who was booked within the opening 10 minutes for a late tackle on Robbie Keane, committed a number of similar fouls for the rest of the game.
And Clark said: "I've got to say that I did note a couple of times about Bougherra living dangerously, and I think he was on his very last life, as it were.
"He was treading a very thin line. On another day he might well have been red-carded, but he got away with it.
"I think he was very fortunate to remain where he was."
"The difficulty is not that the standard of refereeing has dropped, the standard by which referees are being judged has been raised because of the proliferation of cameras and camera angles.
"Therefore, people are able to say: 'he should've seen this, or should've seen that'.
"That's when people get to the situation where the perception is referees aren't doing as well as they used to.
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