John Hartson and James McFadden disagree with call during Celtic’s win vs St Johnstone

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Celtic made the simple look easy in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday.

That defeat in Perth a few weeks ago would have still been fresh in Brendan Rodgers’ mind, so he wouldn’t have taken St Johnstone lightly.

But, in the end, Celtic made easy work of St Johnstone and booked their Scottish Cup final ticket in style and with pure disdain.

The Treble-chasers netted four first-half goals, as the second half, for the neutral, would have been rather flat, but there was some spice added to it.

At the start of the second period, Makenzie Kirk rightfully had a long-range effort ruled out for a foul on Adam Idah in the build-up.

But then James Forrest had a penalty overturned.

• READ MORE: James Forrest hits back at what he’s been hearing about his Celtic teammates

John Hartson and James McFadden disagree on penalty call as Celtic beat St Johnstone

Thankfully, nothing was riding on this call, but that doesn’t mean the officials shouldn’t be criticised for being wrong.

John Hartson certainly feels that Forrest’s penalty should have stood, rather than been overturned by VAR, because his opponent put his arm in the Celtic man’s face.

But James McFadden disagreed and explained why he felt the right decision was made, in the end, as he told BBC Sportscene.

“I think the ref is struggling to see that,” claimed Hartson. “He isn’t up to play, for a start. I think Balodis comes across, and there is an arm in James Forrest’s face.

“He has gone down there. He feels something from Balodis. Maybe that was the one that the VAR could have given it for, was the arm across James Forrest’s face. He feels the contact and goes down. I think the VAR decision got that wrong. I think it was a penalty.”

McFadden responded: “No, I don’t. I think he gives it for the initial challenge, and Balodis then comes across with the arm.

“I think, because the referee has given it for the initial lunge. There is no contact, then I think they get the right decision.”

Forrest is closing in on Celtic history

It was a shame that Forrest was injured for months because he deserves more minutes, in what is going to be a record-breaking season for the player.

The 33-year-old is set to enter the history books on April 26, if the Celtic players get the job done and secure the Premiership title.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	33	26	3	4	97	22	75	81
2	RangersRangers	33	20	6	7	68	35	33	66
3	HibernianHibernian	33	14	11	8	54	41	13	53
4	Dundee UtdDundee Utd	33	14	8	11	41	40	1	50

Forrest has 25 major honours to his name, the same as the legendary Bobby Lennox, and will hit a record-breaking 26 when that Premiership title is sealed to become the club’s most decorated player.

Let’s be honest, wouldn’t it be great if the title is won at Ibrox rather than Tannadice, and Forrest nets the winner?!