Danny Rohl confused by late penalty denial after Rangers hit back at Livingston

Danny Rohl was left bemused by the added-time penalty incident that went against Rangers after they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with William Hill Premiership bottom side Livingston.

French defender Brooklyn Kabongolo volleyed the home side in front in the 14th minute and forward Lewis Smith doubled that lead in the 55th minute.

The game turned against Livingston on the hour when Cristian Montano was sent off by referee Ryan Lee for denying Gers attacker Djeidi Gassama a goalscoring opportunity.

Late goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore restored parity and, in nine added minutes, there was a long check by VAR David Dickinson for a possible penalty when Moore was tackled by Cammy Kerr at the edge of the Livingston box but it came to nothing, leaving Rangers four points behind leaders Hearts.

Rohl said: “For me, it’s a clear foul. I think it’s on the line. And then it’s two decisions.

“If it’s outside, it’s a red card and a free-kick, or it’s inside, then it’s a penalty and a yellow card. You see it.

“I think there’s no (contact on the) ball, the contact goes to the man. I think those are crucial moments in this race as well.

“The first thing is when they checked over two or three minutes, there must be something. And then I was surprised that the ref did not watch it back.

“Maybe he has an explanation. I don’t have this but finally, again, we have 100 minutes to decide this game earlier.”

Celtic’s 2-1 home defeat to Hibernian means the Hoops are two points behind Rangers and six behind Hearts, having played a game fewer than the top two teams.

With 10 fixtures remaining, Rohl believes the title race will go to the final game of the season.

Rohl said: “It showed good character from the group. It’s hard at 2-0 down to come back. I put three centre-forwards on the pitch.

“I took the centre-back out and we played with three in the last line. We tried, we tried, we tried.

“We took a point. It’s two points less, I know this. But you have to carry on, continue.

“It’s about next game. This title race goes until the last match there, 100 per cent convinced.”

Livingston are eight points behind second-bottom Kilmarnock, who are in the relegation play-off spot.

Livi boss Marvin Bartley preferred to look at the outcome as a “good point” gained rather than two dropped and he was puzzled by the nine minutes added on at the end of the game as he remains confident that the West Lothian side can escape the drop.

He said: “I came in the first day as manager and I told them we will get out of this and I still thoroughly believe that.

“Their performances and their effort are now making other people maybe believe.

“But the most important thing for us isn’t performances, it’s points. We need to start picking up three points very, very quickly.

“We’ve got 10 games now where we have to close this gap before the split and then we need to overturn it, whether it’s the last game of the season, whatever it might be, this team will survive and stay in the top flight.

“I’m really sure of that.”