Boruc should have gone - MacPherson

23rd November 2008

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson claimed referee Willie Collum should have red-carded Artur Boruc for his "crude" challenge on Craig Dargo during the Buddies' 3-1 defeat by Celtic at Love Street.

Second-half goals from Georgios Samaras, Shunsuke Nakamura and substitute Cillian Sheridan made it a comfortable win in the end for Gordon Strachan's side.

But the game arguably turned on a first-half incident in which the Hoops keeper was only yellow-carded by Collum for a wild tackle on Dargo outside the Celtic penalty area as the Saints striker raced through on goal. The champions took advantage of their good fortune to romp away after the break although they lost a late consolation to Saints substitute Jim Hamilton.

MacPherson insisted the type of challenge seen from Boruc, regardless of the debate on whether his side were denied a clear goal chance, should have resulted in the Poland international seeing red.

"We are not complaining about goal-scoring opportunities or it being the last man, we are only talking about the challenge," the Love Street boss said. "If a centre-back or outfield player makes a challenge as crude as that, I think there would only be one outcome - we would all be expecting a red card.

"Just because it's a goalkeeper, it shouldn't be any different. The fourth official said Craig wasn't in control but Craig was in control, he knew exactly what he was doing. Artur Boruc was just trying to stop him. In no way, shape or form was he trying to break his leg but he knew what he was doing."