Craig Gordon has every right to be disappointed about Hearts falling short in the title race. What he does not have is a convincing case for injustice.
That is why Frank McAvennie’s response to the Hearts goalkeeper’s latest social media intervention is so difficult to argue with.
Gordon’s comments have not only kept the complaints surrounding Celtic’s title win alive, they have reportedly sparked tension inside the Scotland camp just days before a World Cup campaign.
At some point Hearts need to stop looking for someone else to blame. The title was in their hands and they let it slip, and McAvennie let Gordon know it.
Craig Gordon feels ‘injustice’ over Celtic’s title win?
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McAvennie slams Gordon’s version of Celtic events
Speaking on Let Me Be Frank, McAvennie had little sympathy for the argument that Hearts were somehow denied the Premiership title.
Host of the show Simon Houston said, “I don’t know if you’ve been following the situation with Craig Gordon’s Instagram post of the weekend.
“He’s apparently caused a wee bit of unrest in the Scotland camp because what he’s basically saying is Hearts not winning the league was an injustice. He used the word injustice and his Instagram post was liked by Rangers and Hearts players in the Scotland squad, not liked by Celtic players in the Scotland squad or Celtic supporters in the Scotland squad. There’s one or two of them as well.
“It seems a really strange thing to do just a few days before World Cup starting.
Frank McAvennie replied, “I keep saying whoever wins the league, wins the league because they’re the best team in the league. It’s nothing to do with the last couple of weeks.
“It’s to do with the whole season and Celtic were there. Listen, the best Hearts team for a long time couldn’t beat the worst Celtic team for a long time. And let’s be honest, that’s the worst Celtic team I’ve seen for a while.
“They got five points out of a possible 21 [away]. That’s what cost them the league. It’s nothing to do with the hand ball or anything. It’s nothing to do with that. Get over it.
“You don’t put out a social media post and still bring that same old nonsense. You know, it is what it is. The Motherwell game, that’s not how you lost the league. He lost the league because he’s bottled it. Simple.”
That is exactly why the timing of Gordon’s post has raised eyebrows. What started as disappointment over losing the title has now become a talking point around Scotland’s preparations for a major tournament.
McAvennie’s frustration is easy to understand. Gordon’s post was not written in the immediate aftermath of the title defeat. It arrived weeks later and reopened a debate many thought had already been settled.
McAvennie is correct, Hearts bottled the title race with Celtic
McAvennie’s five points from 21 statistic was aimed at Hearts’ away form during the decisive weeks of the season.
One away win in seven matches is not title-winning form. Neither are defeats at St Mirren, Rangers, Kilmarnock and Celtic.
While Hearts were dropping points, Celtic were doing the exact opposite. Martin O’Neill’s side won their final five league matches and collected 15 points from a possible 15.
That is why the trophy ended up at Celtic Park.
The controversial Motherwell handball decision that Hearts supporters continue to point towards was later reviewed by Scottish football’s refereeing department, which backed the call that was made.
Supporters can disagree with that decision if they wish. What they cannot do is pretend it explains away an entire run-in.
Gordon is entitled to feel disappointed. What he is not entitled to do is rewrite the reasons Hearts failed to win the league.
Celtic finished with five straight victories. Hearts took five points from 21 away from home. Those numbers tell the story far better than any claim of injustice ever could.
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