Pat Bonner was right to shut down the penalty debate surrounding Arne Engels during Celtic’s first half against Motherwell because the real issue was what happened immediately after the collision.
There was contact between Daizen Maeda and the goalkeeper as both challenged for the ball, but Celtic still ended up with a massive opportunity that should have ended in the back of the net.
Bonner had no doubts about where the focus should be.
Pat Bonner refused to blame the officials for no Celtic penalty
The former Celtic goalkeeper gave a calm and straightforward assessment of the incident during BBC Radio Scotland coverage after Engels collided with the Motherwell goalkeeper in the closing stages of the first half.
Celtic players and supporters appealed for a penalty after the Japanese striker was flattened by the Motherwell goalkeeper, but Bonner felt the challenge itself was part of normal play.
Bonner said: “Engels should have scored with that clash with the goalkeeper. There’s a bit of talk about, should it have been a penalty? Just from a goalkeeper’s perspective, I don’t think so, because he’s moving backwards. So bodies are going to come together.
“Goalkeeper is coming out, he’s attacking the ball at its highest point and the two of them just collide. So I don’t think it was a penalty, but Engels then had a chance on the second phase, and really should have put the ball in the back of the net.”
It was a far more measured reaction than much of the immediate discussion surrounding the incident.
Celtic’s frustration should be with the missed chance
Bonner’s main point was difficult to argue against because Engels still had the opportunity to score after the initial collision. The ball broke kindly for the midfielder, but his effort crashed against the crossbar instead.
That moment mattered more than the contact itself.
Celtic had already recovered from Elliot Watt’s opener through Daizen Maeda and were beginning to regain control of the match before the break. Converting that chance would have completely changed the mood heading into half-time.
Instead, the focus quickly shifted towards refereeing and possible penalties.
Bonner cut through that instantly. His analysis put the penalty debate to bed, and Celtic’s attention should be surrounding the missed chance as the title race moves into its decisive stage.
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