Rangers fail in Thomson red card appeal

Rangers were frustrated in their enterprising attempt to make Kevin Thomson available for Wednesday’s Scottish Cup clash at Dundee United after the Scottish Football Association rejected an appeal against his League Cup final dismissal.

The Gers waited until moments before Wednesday’s 1700GMT deadline to contest the red card in a bid to ensure the case could not be heard before the game kicked off at Tannadice just hours later.

That would have freed midfielder Thomson to play, but the SFA were prepared for the calculated ploy and had Sunday’s match referee, Craig Thomson, poised to review video footage of the incident.

It took the official less than an hour to decide he was satisfied with his decision to send off Thomson for a second-half lunge on St Mirren’s Steven Thomson, meaning the Rangers star’s suspension will begin immediately.