'I can't understand' - BBC Sportscene pundit baffled by VAR incident in Rangers win vs Aberdeen

Rangers had a goal chalked off against Aberdeen on Sunday, something Steven Naismith “can’t understand”.

The Macedonian thought that he had scored the fourth for Danny Rohl’s side on Saturday, before his stoppage-time strike was ruled out due to a Connor Barron handball in the buildup.

The hosts would get their fourth just four minutes later, with James Tavernier rattling in a free-kick off the bar to seal a 4-1 win at Ibrox.

Though former striker Naismith remains puzzled by the VAR decision to rule out Miovski’s prior effort.

Rangers’ win against Aberdeen leaves them three points behind league leaders Hearts, as they look to mount a title challenge heading into the final months.

Steven Naismith puzzled by VAR decision in Rangers vs Aberdeen

Second-half goals from Mikey Moore and Nicolas Raskin had put Rangers firmly in the ascendancy heading into the final stages.

Looking to bolster the goal difference on Saturday, Miovski thought he had added a fourth in stoppage time – a goal that would have been his fifth of the campaign.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene following Saturday’s clash at Ibrox, Naismith gave his thoughts on the decision to disallow the late strike.

“I can’t understand why that’s been pulled back,” he said. “I know it’s hit his (Barron) arm, but what is he meant to do with his arm?

“It’s the amount of play beyond the ball hitting his arm. It’s not as if it goes straight into the goal from the hand. There’s still a lot of work there. I’m very surprised VAR got involved.”

Tavernier’s late free-kick would ensure that Rangers did get their fourth of the afternoon, though, seeing Rohl’s side carry the best goal difference in the division heading into the final stages.

Goal difference boost could play huge part in season result

With the split approaching, Rangers remain three points behind leaders Hearts, while Celtic have the chance to climb back into second with a win against Dundee United.

The three sides are locked in a title race heading into the season’s crunch point, meaning that goal difference could play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the term.

In a presentable home fixture against a struggling Aberdeen, Rohl’s side ensured that they did enough to continue strengthening their goal difference, even after Miovski’s strike was chalked off in additional time.

Not looking to rest on their laurels, Rangers did not just pick up the result to keep them in the title picture, the professional nature of their performance as a whole gave them a big goal difference boost – something that could well decide who wins the Scottish Premiership come May.

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