Know the Ref - Rangers home

Last updated : 03 February 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

That was in November, when we lost our usual early goal against them before going on to lose 2-1. Can't remember too much else controversial about it if I'm honest. Last season he did three Saints games - a win over Inverness Caley Thistle and a defeat and a draw with Hibs.

I don't particularly rate Mr Brines but I can't think of a reason why when I look at his track record with us. In 2007/08 he oversaw a fine Boxing Day win at Tynecastle and a draw at Tannadice, where Andy Dorman scored a last minute equaliser against Dundee United. The previous season he correctly sent off Barry Robson while he was playing for United at Love Street, although we lost 2-1, while he also took charge of home draws against Motherwell and Hibs. The latter saw another last minute equaliser, this time from John Sutton.

Mr Brines' record with us during our championship season is mixed. We lost to Lanarkshire clubs Motherwell (in the League Cup) and Hamilton at Love Street, while we beat Queen of the South and Airdrie. The latter saw an interesting rule where Mr Brines sent off an Airdrie player for swearing and gave us a free-kick for the offence! The previous season he did two Saints games, a win over Airdrie and a draw with Falkirk, while his first Saints game was at the end of 2003. We drew with Ross County at Love Street, this time the visitors grabbing the late equaliser. They had earlier been reduced to 10 men.

Aside from the game against us, this official has done two Rangers games this season. One saw a goalless draw against Aberdeen, the other was a comfortable hammering of Hibs - despite the Edinburgh side scoring inside 20 seconds! Last season he oversaw a 2-2 draw at Tannadice, a 2-0 win over United (with a penalty), a 5-1 win over Hamilton (with a penalty) and wins over Falkirk and Hearts.

The record for Rangers with Mr Brines in 2007/08 is almost perfect: wins over Aberdeen, Motherwell and Gretna with only a draw against Partick Thistle in the cup blotting things, although they won the replay. The year before he did just one Rangers game, a comfortable win over Hibs, who had Ivan Sproule sent off. Although 2005/06 saw home wins over the Edinburgh sides, it also saw a hammering by Hibs, with Sproule grabbing a hat-trick! The other game Mr Brines did that season was a draw with 10 man Inverness Caley Thistle, Craig Dargo getting the goal for Caley.

Rangers won three of the four games they had with Mr Brines in 2004/05 - against Livingston, Kilmarnock and Dundee - without even conceding a goal. However, the other game saw them losing to United at Tannadice. Mr Brines first Rangers came way back in 2003/04 as they won against Livingston at Ibrox.

Rangers' record with Mr Brines is fairly good then, but you'd expect that with any official for either half of the Old Firm as they win most of their games. Interestingly, he hasn't sent anyone off yet this season - something he'll hopefully keep going on Saturday, at least where Saints players are concerned!