Celtic captain Scott Brown has refused to blame fatigue for the defeat to Livingston, and has called for consistency from referees in the Premiership.
Celtic defeated Cluj 2-0 on Thursday night just three days before the 2-0 loss to Livi. Neil Lennon decided to make just one change to the starting XI yesterday too. He then came out afterward and stated that he believed fatigue was an issue (The Scotsman).
Meanwhile, Willie Collum did his best to be two-faced throughout the game. He correctly sent off Ryan Christie for a poor challenge on Scott Robinson. However, he refused to do the same for a two-footed lunge from Keaghan Jacobs on Jonny Hayes. He also refused to give Robinson a second yellow for a blatant hand-ball.
Scott Brown was happy to give his opinion on both matters. Speaking in the Daily Record, he disagreed with his manager on the fatigue issue and then demanded consistency from referees.
“Playing at lunchtime had nothing to do with it. Livi made it extremely difficult for us. They were very aggressive, on the front foot and defended well and we didn’t play as well as we should have.
“I saw the late tackle over on the far side and it was a two-footed lunge as well. At that time the game had gone but you’ve got to be consistent.
“It was always going to be hard but we’ve won with 10 men before. We know how we play and we have to defend from the front and work better as a team. Ryan was not trying to hurt anybody. It’s not in his nature, he is a great lad, very honest and works as hard as anybody does in training.”
Brown correct in everything he says here
We can’t blame fatigue for the performance. If largely the same XI can’t play on a Thursday and then another 90 minutes three days later, then we have a big problem.
Added to that, if tiredness did come into it, why weren’t there more changes? Surely this was an avoidable risk if Lenny believed fatigue was going to come into the equation. Brown doesn’t believe it played a part, and it’s difficult to go against the player’s perspective on this one.
As for consistency, that’s something Scottish football is screaming out for as a collective when it comes to refereeing. Celtic didn’t lose because of Collum. In fact, he was 100% correct to put us at a disadvantage with the red card. It was stupid from Christie.
However, it was decisions after that which frustrated. The Jacobs challenge was just one incident. Collum, in truth, had several blunders throughout the match once again. Would they have changed the game? Probably not, Celtic just weren’t at it and didn’t deserve anything from the 90 minutes.
But the lack of consistency in refereeing is a huge frustration for the players. It also felt as if Celtic could hardly challenge for aerial duels without Collum blowing for a Livingston free-kick.
Brown is right to demand some consistency, and he’s right not to point to fatigue. Overall, it was just a shocking day at the office all-round.
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