For all the talk we have had about the decisions that have gone against Celtic at Tynecastle yesterday, for balance, I think it’s important to highlight the ones that we did get.
The Lawrence Shankland goal that was chalked off for offside was one that we got away with. Whilst it was offside, the difference was marginal as the video ref concluded that the Hearts striker had just strayed out of position.
And then there was the penalty won by Hyunjun Yang. At the time I thought we were fortunate to get it as it did seem like both players had just come together.
However, referee Don Robertson thought otherwise and gave Adam Idah the opportunity to convert a spot kick which, ultimately he missed.
But what did the pundits think about the decision to give Celtic a penalty for that challenge? Well, here Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage share exactly what they thought of it.
Sutton said [BBC 606], “Do you know what, I went back and forth with myself and Rangers fans. Celtic did miss a penalty. I didn’t think it was a penalty.
“I think Cochrane on the Celtic wide player, Yang, I don’t think it was a penalty but Celtic had the opportunity to take the lead and didn’t take it.
“So essentially the game was in their hands at that stage.”
Savage: “I thought it was harsh as well, yeah. I thought it was harsh.”
Balanced perception of what actually happened? I think so. Although contact was there would we have been happy if the roles were reversed and that kind of penalty was given against us?
And now, yes, I know we eventually got a penalty awarded against us later in that half but that decision has been universally panned by all pundits in the game.
So it seems that whilst most of the criticism has been levied at the officials for the decision Celtic didn’t get, can we take comfort from the fact we got lucky with a penalty being awarded to us? Nay, not one bit.
In other news, Jeff Stelling makes huge Glasgow Derby prediction after watching Celtic’s VAR red card row
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