| After all the complaints this season about inexperienced referees, we find ourselves with a relative veteran for the trip to Ibrox. However, Iain Brines is rather inconsistent at times. |
I'll be honest and say I don't really like this official. He is a bit dodgy, makes a lot of mistakes and often infuriates me. However, as it's Rangers we're playing, any official would be biased against us so it's probably irrelevant what he's like!
Last season with Mr Brines and Saints was mixed. We drew with Hibs, beat Caley Thistle - although they were given a dodgy penalty - and lost at Easter Road. Not great, but not the worst return in the world.
Things weren't too bad in 2007/08 - we beat Hearts at Tynecastle and picked up a fine draw against Dundee United at Tannadice. Our first season back in the SPL saw this official in charge of three games. In one he sent off Dundee United's Barry Robson in a 3-1 defeat at Love Street, while the others were draws with Motherwell and Hibs.
The double season of 2005/06 saw Mr Brines and Saints meet on regular occasions, including a League Challenge Cup win over Queen of the South at Palmerston and defeats to Motherwell (cup) and Hamilton (league). He was also in charge of a 4-1 gubbing of Airdrie United where he sent a player off for swearing and we scored the following free-kick.
Soccerbase only shows three more Saints games involving Mr Brines - a draw with Falkirk, another win over Airdrie in 2005/04 and a draw with Ross County the previous season, in which a County player was sent off.
Mr Brines has already been in charge of a Rangers game this season, a goalless draw with Aberdeen. Last season he oversaw a win and a draw with Dundee United (giving Rangers their standard penalty in the win), a gubbing of Hamilton in the cup and other wins over Falkirk and Hearts.
2007/08 was a good year for Rangers with this official as they recorded wins over Aberdeen, Motherwell and Gretna, although they needed a replay to see off Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.
Things weren't quite so good in 2006/07 during Paul Le Guen's reign of disaster. With Mr Brines in charge Rangers lost to Caley Thistle, Dunfermline (in the cup) and Kilmarnock, although they did beat Hearts and Hibs, who had Ivan Sproule sent off. Sproule had been a hero at Ibrox for Hibs the previous season when Mr Sproule was the official as he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win. However, Rangers did also beet them, and Hearts, at home that season as well as drawing with Caley Thistle. The rest of Mr Brines' games with the Gers show little of interest.
Nothing above explains why I have a grudge against Mr Brines, but I'm sure he'll reinforce it with a typical Old Firm favouring display on Saturday.
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