Honest Mistakes - Week Three
Week three of the SPFL and a relatively quiet week as the top two clubs racked up 9 goals without reply.
But there is always one!
The impact of that call being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
13/08/22 The Rangers vs St Johnstone
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute 62nd
Incident Colak scores for TRFC Outcome Goal to TRFC Evidence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqpQ8TxzuT4
At 2:40
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Colak scores for Rangers
Initial on field decision: Goal awarded
Rangers player cuts in from left hand side, wins a challenge with St Johnstone defender and ball goes to feet of Colak who scores from ten yards out.
Two things to consider here. The initial challenge and also Colak’s position when he receives the ball.
For me, the challenge itself by the Rangers player is fine and he appears to clearly play the ball first.
However, this challenge sees the ball go straight to Colak who is stood a good yard offside at the first point of contact.
Under Law 11 offside - A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate.
Clearly Colak is active as he immediately turns and shoots.
Verdict: Incorrect decision - goal should have been disallowed for the offside offence
Expected Points
Outcome
TRFC +0.3 xPts
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
Well, that didn’t last long.
That second goal really is crucial. For those that argue “ah, but they won 4-0 why does it matter?”. At the time of the incorrect call, it was only 1-0 and however much The Rangers may have been dominating the match, as a wise person once said, it only takes a second to score a goal.
See Celtic’s match at Ross County as an example. Celtic were well on top and dominating by all the metrics but the Staggies popped up with a header from a corner to equalise. Happens all the time.
Almost silence in the media about it as well. Hmmm.
Slight change to the Expected Points position, then.
The Rangers have 0.15 LESS points than expected due to the cumulative impact of Honest Mistakes.
The top two are level on points after 3 games.