Liam Scales didn’t get to enjoy his ninth cap for the Republic of Ireland after the Celtic defender was ordered off against England at Wembley.
Scales fouled Jude Bellingham in the penalty box in the 51st minute whilst the scores were tied at 0-0. The resulting penalty and red card sparked a collapse as the Irish went on to lose the game 5-0.
The result leaves the Irish national team with six points from 18 nine points behind Greece on 15 as they struggle to make a real impact on Nations League Group B2.
67 Hail Hail told how Roy Keane called the Celtic defender’s second booking an act of ‘stupidity’ but the Republic of Ireland camp has a different view of Liam Scales being sent for an early bath.
Andrew Moran and Nathan Collins’ ‘tough’ verdict on Celtic star Liam Scales’ red card
Scales’ teammates, Andrew Moran and Nathan Collins, gave their immediate reaction to the red card and both reckon the decision to order off the Celtic defender was harsh.
Moran told RTE Sport, “They didn’t really have too many chances as far as I can remember. Obviously, I haven’t seen it back, but yeah, the lads were fighting unbelievably.
“I was just proud watching it like and then obviously the red card and the penalty kills us. We can take so many positives from the first half the way the lads fought really made it very difficult for a top side like England.
“Obviously, the state of the game is you’re just trying to take us over to the end and try and get the fight back in when you come on. You’re trying to be a little spark, I suppose.
“So, yeah, it was obviously a bit frantic, being down to 10 men, you’re trying to cover big spaces against such a good team, it’s tough. But, yeah, no, it’s a proud night. Obviously, my competitive debut, so proud, but obviously tough circumstances.”
Collins was a little more direct as he labelled Scales’ red card as ‘soft’.
Collins told RTE, “I’d need to see it back again. I did think it was a little soft.
“He [referee, Erik Lambrechts] did like his yellow cards but it doesn’t take away from the fact that in the second half we weren’t good enough.
Heimir Hallgrimsson ‘didn’t see the need’ to send off Celtic’s Liam Scales
Republic of Ireland boss, Heimir Hallgrimsson, was also just as perplexed with the ordering of as he said ‘eight minutes of madness’ helped the Irish succumb to an England defeat.
Hallgrimsson told RTE Sport when asked if the red card changed the game, “We will never know that. We would just never know that.
“But it was six minutes, eight minutes of madness. We, of course, end up conceding a penalty. Losing the ball is one thing, not reacting to it is another.
“Then conceding a penalty, losing a player. So it was a lot of shock. One zero down, and then in your face, you get the second one.
“And I just felt that we just lost our heads at that moment. After that there was no way back. I felt that was no way back. Yeah, we kind of just gave up, easy to stand outside and criticize the players but it was king of a crazy moment that killed everything.”
For now, Scales will need to pick himself up as Celtic resumes domestic and European duties from Saturday night onwards.
Hearts at Tynecastle awaits Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic and then a visit from Club Brugges in the Champions League is next.
The next few weeks will be frantic as Celtic’s fixture schedule also includes the League Cup final against Aberdeen on the 15th of December.
Hopefully, by then, Scales’ memory of the red card will be a distant memory if he can help Celtic lift the cup and quality from the Champions League.
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