Celtic will this weekend take on Ross County in what’s just another big game in our title run-in.
It’s a game in which we hope we won’t be talking about decisions too much after the game. Or at all in fact. There has been far too much discussion over referees and controversy this season. Indeed, plenty of moaning has engulfed Scottish football this season, and it’s become tiresome.
There’s been so much of it that you may even have forgotten Mackay’s bitter little digs after our 2-1 win in Dingwall back in December. Indeed, after Anthony Ralston’s 97th-minute header that secured a priceless 3 points, Mackay certianly got a few jabs in when it came to his post-match remarks.
As quoted by the Scotsman, the County boss said: “I don’t want to ask the referee anything, otherwise that’s going to cause me problems and put me into trouble if I say one more word to him. Where they got seven minutes from is an interesting one. At one point it felt as if we were playing until they scored.
But for the ball coming off Dom Samuel’s head, the shot in the last second of the game [that led to the corner the goal came from] was going into the top of that stand. It’s fine lines, but I think you saw how relieved Celtic were leaving here.
“I’m proud that our players enacted the game-plan, and ran Celtic as close as they did. You could hear with the celebrations they were lucky to get away with the three points.”
Celtic were nearly done in Dingwall but another refereeing shocker
What was a touch rich coming from Mackay here was that he failed to mention the clearly ludicrous decision to send Carl Starfelt off. A decision that never should’ve been and led to us struggling in the closing stages as we tried to get the winner.
Mackay had a dig at the celebrations and you can’t ignore his “play until Celtic score” line here. It’s the kind of thing that the players will remember. We’ll certainly be keen to ensure there’ll be no need for debate on the scoreline this weekend at Celtic Park.
Indeed, Mackay was also left disappointed with the referee in his trip to Celtic Park back in September. The County boss stormed onto the pitch at full-time and confronted him despite his side being soundly hammered in a 3-0 manner.
Hopefully, he’s left in no doubt this Saturday when it comes to the result. It’s down to us to make sure he doesn’t find anything to moan about.
We’re at a stage of the season where we could do with a convincing performance and result in any case. With 8 league fixtures still to play, this would be the ideal time to send out a message ahead of our next league match at Ibrox.
We certainly have a point to prove given the bitterness that seeped out of Mackay in the last fixture.
In other news, Celtic youngster Bosun Lawal opens up on “tough couple of months”; ready to shine again
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