Ally McCoist has sympathy for Ian Black

Rangers manager Ally McCoist can partly understand Ian Black’s costly reaction to what he has described as “ridiculous” challenges.

Referee Greg Aitken gets between Ian Black Jamie Bain (right). Picture: SNS

Black is suspended for the Scottish League One clash at Forfar later this month after being booked for pushing an opponent during the 1-0 win at Airdrie last week – his sixth yellow card in 11 games. The reaction came after he was fouled and McCoist feels he has become something of a target.

McCoist told the club’s website: “Ian comes in for a bit of heavy treatment. I said to him after the game at Airdrie that he can’t react the way he reacted there and everybody appreciates that. Some of the challenges on him though are ridiculous and watching back that game, there were a couple that fell into that category. Ian’s just one of these players for us. He has certainly been fouled and he gets his fair share of fouls on him.

“The reaction he gave at Airdrie and the booking he got was disappointing, but there was part of me which could understand his frustration as the tackle on him was very poor.”

McCoist, whose team won 2-0 at Stenhousemuir on Sunday, added: “Ian is doing well for us overall which is the main thing and he will be a miss for us in the Forfar game as he has given us great stability in the middle of the park with Nicky Law.”