Mark McGhee hits back at Walter Smith over disallowed 'goal'

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MARK McGHEE last night hit out at Walter Smith for moaning about Rangers' disallowed goal against Motherwell.

And the Fir Park manager was backed up by striker John Sutton over the incident in the midweek 0-0 draw.

Ibrox boss Smith criticised linesman Tom Murphy for wrongly flagging Kris Boyd offside as he collected a Steve Davis pass and hammered the ball past keeper Graeme Smith. McGhee has been simmering since Smith's outburt because he reckons the controversy overshadowed an excellent display by his players.

The Well boss said: "I have been a bit peeved because I felt our performance didn't get enough credit. I've watched a rerun of the game and even for the first 25 minutes of the second half we had 62 per cent of the possession. Against Celtic, Manchester United had 68 per cent and people were holding their breath. To do that against any of the Old Firm teams is impressive.

"It was only one bad decision and there was a penalty we didn't get at the end. We have bad decisions go against us in every game but I have not been bleating about it.

"We are still convinced the ball crossed the line at Parkhead when it was 0-0. I have not mentioned that until now."

McGhee questioned whether the Boyd finish would have been so emphatic had he not been ruled offside. He said: "I recall scoring a goal for Aberdeen at Parkhead when I was clearly offside.

"I lobbed big Packie Bonner from about 40 yards and if I had not been offside I would never have done that in a million years."

Sutton said: "It didn't seem a big deal. I don't think Boyd would have pinged it in from 30 yards had he been onside - and Graeme Smith would have tried to save it.

"It's sour grapes. Our manager didn't let us dwell on the goal we should have had at Celtic."

Holding Rangers might turn out to be easier than holding on to star players for Motherwell. But McGhee isn't losing any sleep at the prospect of departures - because he would be off also if offered a dream job.

McGhee snubbed Hearts last summer because he had unfinished work at Motherwell.

Now he faces losing Chris Porter, Stephen Hughes and keeper Smith, whose contracts end next summer.

McGhee believes he would be two-faced to complain if they decided to accept better offers than Motherwell can provide.

He said: "I doesn't trouble me because I am exactly the same as the players. I can't sit here and say that if Barcelona come in for me I am not going. If they come in for me, I am off no matter who stays or goes and it's the same with the players.

"If someone bigger comes in how can we stand in their way?

"Ross McCormack left us and we got John Sutton in so we haven't lost that much.

"I would rather Ross was still here but when you lose someone you just have to move on. I don't lose sleep over that."

McGhee has spoken to the trio about staying on but expects Porter - who has attracted interest from Sheffield United - to return to England if a lucrative deal is slapped in front of him. He said: "Chris came here to earn himself a move to a club like Sheffield United so if they come in for him what can you do?"

But the manager insists there is no point in Hughes or Smith leaving just for the sake of it.

McGhee said: "Ross improved his wages significantly but Graeme is just a baby and there are a lot of reasons he should stay.

"If any player is going to move it has to be a move upwards.

"What would be the point of going sideways?

"We have rewarded them with better deals and wages and they have had a taste of playing football in Europe."