Rangers FC

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• Manager:Walter Smith

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Smith slams Hibs reaction

10 Mar 2008 - 11:17:40

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Rangers manager Walter Smith slammed his Hibernian counterparts for their reaction to an ugly Nacho Novo tackle during Sunday's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at Ibrox.

The Spanish forward was sent off with ten minutes remaining of a match the Glasgow club won 1-0 after a two-footed tackle on Hibs wing-back Thierry Gathuessi.

However Smith, who was also sent to the stands after becoming embroiled in a heated argument with the Hibs bench, was deeply unhappy with their reaction.

"I just felt, more than anything else, that the reaction of the Hibs bench was one that was poor," he claimed.

"Throughout the match they were calling for yellow cards and ordering-offs and I just felt that their reaction to the tackle was a poor one.

"I've got no argument with the ordering-off - I thought the referee made the correct decision - although I do think the tackle looked worse than it actually was.

"To be fair, the Hibs player got up almost immediately and I don't think there was any great contact made with him.

"I thought it was a forward's challenge. Nacho just gets a wee bit excited at times."