Celtic defender Liam Scales had a moment to forget after he was sent off for the Republic of Ireland against England at Wembley.
The 26-year-old has been part of a Celtic side that has flattened nearly everyone that has come in their way this season.
Therefore, Scales isn’t used to much disappointment, but the Republic of Ireland’s 5-0 defeat to England in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday evening will sting the player for a long time.
The international break was going well for Scales because he had helped the Irish defeat Finland 1-0 on home soil and secure a much-needed clean.
But, by the time the half-time whistle blew at Wembley, once again, the Bhoys star and his teammates would have been pretty happy.
England, led by their captain Harry Kane, weren’t doing much and Caoimhin Kelleher in between the sticks hardly had a save to make.
But then an outrageous Kane pass to Jude Bellingham at the start of the second half changed the whole game.
English media’s verdict on Liam Scales’ performance for Republic of Ireland
Up until Scales’ second yellow card and sending off, he was fairing well, in fact, he was showing Kane what he is all about, including a crunching tackle on the striker in the first half.
But then, the Bayern Munich star played an outrageous pass that found Jude Bellingham in the penalty area, he was one-v-one with the Celtic defender, before he was tripped for a penalty and it changed the whole game.
The Daily Mail handed Scales a rating of 4/10 and stated: ‘Was doing well – one thunderous challenge on Kane – until second yellow for a trip on Bellingham leading to England penalty. It cost his side’.
That same rating was also handed out by Give Me Sport and they made the point about how Scales was dealing with Kane ‘superbly’, but then that pass and penalty award changed everything.
‘The Celtic defender dealt with Kane superbly and made vital blocks until receiving a red card,’ wrote GMS.
‘Bellingham drew him into the foul and he cost his team as the tide turned once he headed down the tunnel’.
What the Irish media said about Scales’ red card during 5-0 England defeat
There is a common theme between what the English and Irish media had to say about Scales’ performance, and that’s the fact that he was performing well up until his sending-off.
He could argue that he was one of the better players on the pitch, taking out, blocking and heading everything in his way.
That’s why RTE handed the Celtic star a 5/10 for his performance.
‘Was pivotal to Ireland’s resolute showing in the first half, rousing the away fans with a reducer on Harry Kane,’ wrote RTE.
‘A yellow card for knocking the ball away from Gallagher would come back to haunt him, as a second booking and sending-off would follow for conceding a penalty.’
The Irish Examiner agreed and also handed Scales a five by writing: ‘Could have no complaints about the penalty concession and red card, immediately planting his face in his hands, but until that point, the Celtic man had been good – notably winning a ferocious tackle with Kane.’
Celtic are flying this season and Scales has played a huge part in that. Yes, this defeat and how it came about will sting for a while.
But Scales is making progress under Brendan Rodgers and needs to continue going down that road when he returns to Parkhead.
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