Rangers boss Mark Warburton blasted referee Barry Cook for the controversial red-card shown to midfielder Andy Halliday at Cappielow, saying his player did nothing wrong.

His Ibrox side were forced to play out the closing 20 minutes of their 2-0 win over Morton a man down after Halliday received a second yellow card.

The 24-year-old raised a defiant arm in the direction of the home fans as his team-mates celebrated their second goal scored by Barrie McKay. But Cook, on the advice of linesman David McKniff, booked him for what he considered an offensive gesture.

That left Warburton outraged, especially as Halliday - who had a red card against Hibernian last month overturned - is now banned for the meeting with third-placed Falkirk on Saturday with no right of appeal.

Speaking after the match, the manager said: "I've been told that the player was sent off for making an offensive gesture which had incited the Morton fans.

"The player made that fatal mistake of celebrating the second goal. It was scandalous behaviour on his part.

"We will look at it and say all he has done is shown his passion for the game and for the club. We scored a second goal and you have to enjoy it. You have to enjoy football and the nice moments.

"We have watched it from every angle and we are bemused and frustrated. We have lost an important player to a second yellow and you can't appeal for what we find the most frustrating decision."

FIFA's Laws of the Game explain how referees are expected to interpret players' action undera sectoin titled "Celebration of a goal".

It reads: "While it is permissible for a player to demonstrate his joy when a goal has been scored, the celebration must not be excessive.

"Reasonable celebrations are allowed, but the practice of choreographed celebrations is not to be encouraged when it results in excessive time-wasting and referees are instructed to intervene in such cases.

"A player must be cautioned if:

• in the opinion of the referee, he makes gestures which are provocative, derisory or inflammatory

• he climbs on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored

• he removes his shirt or covers his head with his shirt

• he covers his head or face with a mask or other similar item

"Leaving the field of play to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable offence in itself but it is essential that players return to the field of play as soon as possible.

"Referees are expected to act in a preventative manner and to exercise common sense in dealing with the celebration of a goal."