David Martindale has claimed that 'three or four' Rangers players admitted they were surprised Abdallah Sima's opener stood last night.

The forward appeared to push Livingston defender Jamie Brandon in the lead-up to the first goal at Ibrox on Wednesday evening.

Ridvan Yilmaz clipped a ball down the left channel for the on-loan Brighton attacker to chase. Brandon looked favourite to reach the ball first, but it was Sima who broke in behind the visitor's defence after appearing to foul the right back.

Sima raced into the box before scoring with a fine finish at the angle to set Michael Beale's side on their way to an easy 4-0 victory in the Viaplay Cup.

Willie Collum didn't blow his whistle for a foul in the build-up to the goal, and VAR opted not to intervene. 

The incident has upset Livi manager Martindale, who insists his side would not have received the same leniency from the officials had the shoe been on the other foot up the other end of the pitch.

And the Premiership manager has even suggested that some of Rangers' own players had confessed their honest feelings about the matter to him privately.

He told Livingston TV: "The first goal is the game changer when you came away to Ibrox, Parkhead, the big clubs, it's really really difficult.

"The first goal changes the dynamic of the game and it is a foul on Jamie. I can say more here than I can on TV, it's a blatant foul.

"I'm not going to tell you who I spoke to, I spoke to three of four Rangers players and they're all saying the same thing - 'can't believe the goal was given, can't believe that it wasn't a foul'.

"Now I can pretty much guarantee we're not getting that if it's at the other end of the park."

READ MORE: Michael Beale addresses Alex Lowry Rangers vs Hearts semi-final situation

Meanwhile, Michael Beale has addressed Alex Lowry's situation after Rangers were drawn against Hearts in the semi-finals of the Viaplay Cup.

The talented playmaker scored the winner for the Tynecastle outfit in dramatic fashion at Rugby Park on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old's neat drag back and arrowed finish saw Steven Naismith's men progress into the last four of the League Cup to relieve a bit of the pressure from the stands at the club.