Andy Halliday believes Ryan Porteous was very lucky to avoid seeing red against Rangers on Sunday.
The Hibs defender was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball barge on Gers striker Alfredo Morelos during the first half of their 2-2 draw at Easter Road.
Paul Hanlon also had his name taken after he caught Ianis Hagi with a flailing elbow.
And while the ex-Ibrox man thought that Don Robertson made the right call on that occasions, he thinks the man in the middle shou’d’ve given Porteous his marching orders.
“I think he is extremely lucky that is not a red card,” Halliday said on Sportscene.
“For me, it is an off the ball incident, it is 60-yards away from the play and he has made deliberate contact with Alfredo [Morelos].
“I don’t think the [Paul] Hanlon one is a red card – he has just done his best to get between Alfredo (Ianis Hagi) and the ball. I don’t think that contact is deliberate.
“But for me, I think that if the referee’s seen the Ryan Porteous one I think he’s very lucky.”
Halliday also criticised Porteous for taking a ‘cheap shot’ at Rangers captain James Tavernier.
He and Morelos both refused to shake hands with the Scotland Under 21 international after the full-time whistle.
Steven Gerrard was also spotted in conversation with Porteous, and revealed later that he had accused Tavernier of being a bad loser.
And Halliday suggested that Porteous has form in that department himself.
“I think he was saying that Tav’s a bad loser which I think is a bit cheap coming from him,” he said.
“He got sent off for a really bad tackle when he was losing 3-0 against us here last season.
“I don’t agree with that or the argument.”
For more Hibs news join our new group Hibs Live - News, transfer rumours and chat from Easter Road
