RANGERS midfielder Ryan Jack reckons players will always run a red card risk in the modern game unless their challenges are timed to perfection.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to a combative battle in the middle of the park but he has not been sent off since being dismissed four times during his first campaign at Ibrox.

Ryan Porteous saw red during Rangers’ win at Easter Road on Friday night before Sam Cosgrove was sent off as Aberdeen lost to Celtic on Saturday.

The decisions have sparked debate in some quarters but Jack knows how careful players have to be in tackles these days.

He said: “It’s a tough one. He takes the ball but the follow-through catches Borna and it’s high up.

“It’s a bad challenge and the ref did his job by sending him off.

“Nowadays, if you are going to go in for a tackle, you need to time it perfectly. If you don’t nowadays, it is a straight red. It’s all about the timing of the tackle. I have seen the Cosgrove one back.

“It’s the speed he goes in at, but for me, he wins the ball and you don’t see him catching much of the player.

“Whereas the Porteous one, he catches Borna quite high up. They are two different challenges.

“I have had a few red cards myself a few bad tackles over the years but you need to learn from it.

“Nowadays, you have to time it perfectly and the way the game is if you don’t then it is a red card.”

There were several high-profile instances of the Compliance Officer getting involved in controversies last term. That hasn’t been the case as often this season and Jack said: “To be honest, I have not really picked up on it or noticed that has been the case. Look, that job is there for a reason and if something happens that doesn’t get seen then it should be dealt with.

“That is why they are there and I am sure they will deal with it.”