Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny started his first game for Bolton Wanderers against Reading on Tuesday, and it was rather dramatic.
The 22-year-old made his debut over the weekend, and now his first start, as his tackle on Paudie O’Connor in the second half required the Reading defender to get ‘stitches.’
It left Reading boss Leam Richardson unhappy because he thinks Kenny’s tackle was ‘disgusting’, with the two teams sharing a point in the end after Bolton scored a 96th-minute equaliser.
Bolton took a leaf out of Celtic’s book with that one, but Kenny’s tackle was a talking point post-match.
Does Johnny Kenny have a long-term future at Celtic?
Leam Richardson is unhappy with Johnny Kenny’s tackle on Paudie O’Connor
Kenny and O’Connor were running for the ball on the flanks, with the Reading man in front of the Bolton striker.
Eventually, the Reading defender would hit the deck, and as Kenny came stumbling towards him, the Celtic man stamped on the player, and it did seem an accidental stamp.
But as you can imagine, it left O’Connor needing to get stitched up because he got some unwelcome studs in his face, with Richardson claiming ‘you can see through his mouth’, as he told Yahoo Sports.
“I’ve been told myself that it’s a horrific challenge,” said Richardson.
“I thought the officiating leaves everybody questioning a lot of things tonight. I think we’ve been winning now four or five times, and 11 minutes added has gone up, 10 minutes, 8 minutes, 9 minutes. Give a corner for a goalkeeper having it in his hands for seven seconds, I’ve not seen that one in February.
“I thought momentum shifted quite a lot without the 11 players or 22 players having anything to do with it. That’s a question for everybody else. I wonder why?
“It’s a terrible one. It’s an absolutely terrible one. Disgusting one. He’s getting stitched as we speak now. He’s getting stitched; his teeth have suffered. You can see through his mouth”
Celtic loanee Kenny’s stats in his first start for Bolton against Reading
Kenny needed to go out on loan because he wasn’t showing signs that he was ready to perform for a declining Celtic side.
It’s not the Republic of Ireland star’s fault that the champions of Scotland are in such a mess, but this loan spell should do him the world of good.
Nonetheless, WhoScored rated Kenny’s first start for Bolton at a healthy 6.71.
- Minutes: 77
- Shots: 3
- Dribbles: 1
- Passes: 12
- Key passes: 1
- Passing accuracy: 58.3
- Accurate crosses: 1
- Accurate long balls: 1
- Aerials won: 3
- Clearances: 1
- Touches: 19
- WhoScored rating: 6.71
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