Neil McCann loved what Alistair Johnston did for both VAR calls during Celtic’s draw against Aberdeen

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There were many talking points from Celtic watching their 100% start to the new Premiership season end on Saturday at Parkhead.

Celtic recorded a 2-2 draw against Aberdeen, who also lost their 100% start, as the duo went at each other during the game.

Not only were there goals during the match, but VAR also played its part, with the away side having a third goal chalked off and a penalty appeal being waved away for the champions.

Given how strongly these two teams have started, the game could have easily petered out to a bore-fest, but that wasn’t the case.

The Bhoys raced into a 2-0 lead at the break and it could have been more when Arne Engels superbly hit the woodwork.

But the drama levels went up a notch in the second half, with more goals, the slip-up from Celtic and debatable VAR calls.

Alistair Johnston and Duk’s role in VAR calls as Celtic draw with Aberdeen

The man at the centre of it all was Aberdeen hitman Duk, who came on in the second half, as Neil McCann also spotted the role Alistair Johnston played.

After levelling the scores on the hour mark, the Dons thought they had a third, but their goal was ruled out because the referee and VAR judged that the ball hit Duk’s arm and then directly went into the net.

McCann stated how Johnston showed ‘great vision’ because he instantly saw it, even though he wasn’t facing all of the action, as he told Sportscene.

Then it was Celtic’s time for drama, with Johnston and Duk involved again.

It was the fullback’s shot that was blocked on the line by the Aberdeen player, with McCann adding that the Celtic man was off celebrating before realising the ball wasn’t going to hit the back of the net.

“Correctly, that’s what it’s there for,” said McCann about the Aberdeen goal being ruled out. “If it comes off the attacker or the goalscorer’s arm, and it leads directly to the goal, then it’s not going to be given.

“You can see Alistair Johnston immediately. It’s great vision from him because he has almost got his back to it, but he’s maybe got a feeling or the corner of his eye vantage point to see if it comes off the elbow or lower arm of Duk.

Duk block and Celtic penalty appeal: “They are saying it comes off the arm, it’s really difficult,” added McCann. “If it does, then it comes off the leg first and the upper thigh, for me, and then ricochets against the body. But how he has managed to find himself and position himself there, then keep his arms out of the way because Alistair Johnston has flushed that. He celebrates, and rightly so.”

Michael Stewart questions VAR call after Celtic and Aberdeen draw

For the most part, there weren’t many complaints from the supporters on either side, in terms of the VAR calls.

But other pundits on the BBC had other ideas when discussing the game.

Stewart wants clarity for Aberdeen’s ruled-out goal against Celtic, as he questioned how the handball rule was interrupted by the powers that be.