BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
DARREN McGREGOR has urged the Scottish Football Association’s disciplinary panel to ensure “common sense” prevails when they convene to consider his contentious dismissal against Morton.
McGregor, 31, was shown a red card in injury time last Wednesday after referee Nick Walsh adjudged him to have head-butted Kudus Oyenuga amid a mass skirmish on the touchline which ultimately involved most players and both sets of coaching staffs.
While it was an ugly melee that will undoubtedly have bitter reprisals for the protagonists, McGregor appeared rather harshly treated, with Oyenuga seemingly making the most of, at best, meagre contact from Hibs’ stand-in skipper.
That is an opinion he hopes is shared by the panel, with McGregor desperate be available when the sides clash again at Cappielow next Saturday in what now promises to be a fascinating affair.
“It’s there for everyone to see and I hope a wee bit of common sense prevails,” said the former St Mirren and Rangers defender. “Everyone who knows me knows I am not a nasty player and I would never try and go and attempt to hurt someone.
“There were tempers frayed. Things were things done and decisions made that, when the dust settles, we will hopefully get a bit of clarity on and we can move on.
“I’ve watched it back. It’s out there so people can make their own judgement. I know I never done anything. I was protecting Jordan [Forster] and trying to speak to the ref at the same time. I am just hoping with the benefit of hindsight it can get cleared up and we can move on.
“It’s a fully-charged passionate game. It’s water under the bridge and there are five games left and we need to concentrate on them.”
With his appeal pending, it meant McGregor was able to take his place in the heart of the Hibs defence against Dunfermline on Saturday, for what proved to be an irksome 1-1 stalemate – a 12th draw of the Championship campaign for the Hibees.
“It’s really frustrating because of the amount of games we have drawn,” McGregor added. “We need to start turning them into wins. We have a gap but we are well aware that could change.”
