'Something has to change' - Livingston express fury at Rangers penalty escape

Just a minute after Teti Yengi had drawn the visitors level in the first half, the Australian striker saw another goalbound effort blocked by the arm of Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez.

Referee Ross Hardie was unnmoved and John Beaton on VAR did not request an onfield review, much to the chagrin of Martin, who felt his side had been on the end of an injustice at a crucial point in the match.

"I can't believe that's not a penalty," he fumed. "Well, part of me can believe we don't get it, but it's a stonewall penalty. I can't keep going on like this. I don't understand why it's not a penalty, and I'm not just the only manager.

"There's some manager every week sitting moaning about VAR and blatant decisions. Then you get an apology.

“Apologies are not going to help me on Monday morning. Apologies are not going to help my group. Apologies are not going to give me a point to try and get us up the table. I don't think they understand what's actually at stake and how much this means to managers and clubs.

"It's just flippant. I've got it wrong, sorry. Move on to next week, there's another three decisions that are wrong. I just don't think we can keep going down this road. Something needs to change and it needs to change very, very quickly."

Fernandez had put the hosts in front with a header from a James Tavernier corner on nine minutes with Yengi equalising on 18 minutes before being denied a second by Jack Butland when one-on-one with the Rangers goalkeeper midway through the second half.

Rangers had struggled to break Livingston down before Mohamed Diomande pounced with 12 minutes remaining to condemn the visitors to a defeat which Martindale, justifiably, felt was undeserved.

"I should be talking about my players' performance," he said. " Big point at Ibrox or potentially a big three points at Ibrox. The players were brilliant.

"We defended really well. Dropped into that low block, but that was Rangers' possession. They defended the wide areas great. They defended their box great. But we still had an offensive threat within the game. Two teams had two shots on target each.

"We've got to defend the second goal better. We don't do that well enough, the non-ball side element of it. The first one, we'll take it in the chin."