Severin backs sent-off McCulloch

Lee McCulloch (second from right) was sent off against Aberdeen

Aberdeen's Scott Severin has defended Lee McCulloch despite the off-the-ball challenge that led to the Rangers midfielder's dismissal on Sunday.

McCulloch was red-carded after attempting to intervene when the Dons' Chris Clark fouled Alan Hutton.

"It was a bad challenge by Chris and Lee was running over to defend his team-mate," said midfielder Severin.

"I tried to stop him and it's just the way he was trying to get past me, I think. I won't hold it against Lee."

McCulloch was sent off after the farside assistant reported his leap into Severin to the referee.

Rangers were leading 1-0 through a goal from Charlie Adam, but Aberdeen equalised through Lee Miller soon after the Scotland man's departure.

Lee said he raised his knee as the player was running across him to try and get out of the way Rangers manager Walter Smith

Severin had no hard feelings for his international team-mate.

"I've know him for a number of years now," the Dons midfielder told the Daily Record.

"He's a great big guy and it's unfortunate he got sent off.

"I just tried to stop him. I don't think there was any need to get involved as things were already heated.

"Maybe next time I should just let him get past me.

"Lee said to me after it he didn't realise it was me he trying to get past.

"He just saw the tackle and was trying to get over there to help his mate.

"I never felt a thing. I just felt him barging past me. It was just one of those things.

MY SPORT: DEBATE McCulloch getting sent off could prove to be a blessing in disguise - Walter will now be forced to change things and he may give Gow a chance at left midfield goughtheking

"He apologised as he went past me on his way off and that's fine.

"Maybe the linesman was over the top."

The involvement of assistant George Drummond was questioned by Rangers manager Walter Smith, who said he did not see the incident himself.

"Lee said he raised his knee as the player was running across him to try and get out of the way," he said.

"We had a situation where the two lots of players were together and that always happens here, so that wasn't unusual in its own.

"But what was unusual was the linesman running 60 or 70 yards.

"If he wants to be a referee then he should be a referee and not a linesman."