Commons - Rangers got carried away

04 March 2011 18:30

Kris Commons claims Rangers came to Parkhead to "get into" them in Wednesday night's chaotic Old Firm Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.

The Scottish Football Association's chief executive Stewart Regan apportioned blame to both clubs in a broad-ranging and critical statement and promised an investigation into Celtic's 1-0 win, where three Rangers players were sent off and Hoops boss Neil Lennon clashed with Gers assistant manager Ally McCoist at the final whistle.

"We didn't have anyone sent off and hardly any yellow cards," Commons said. "There were no rash tackles from us. Rangers got three red cards and seven yellow cards. They came to do a job and that was obviously to get into us.

"We are more than happy with the way we handled the game, the way our discipline was and we went out there to play good football, score goals and keep a clean sheet and we did all of the above.

"As I said, there was no ill-discipline from us, we didn't get carried away with the occasion and obviously the Rangers players did."

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain claimed much of the tension around Wednesday night was because two Light Blues' player had been subject to "extreme verbal abuse" in the original tie at Ibrox which ended in a 2-2 draw.

However, Commons gave those accusations little credence.

He said: "As a professional footballer you have to take that on the chin.

"We get paid a hell of a lot of money to play football with the abuse that comes with it.

"If you can't take a little bit of banter on the field or from the crowd then you are in the wrong game."

Source: PA