"Sums up Celtic"; Scotland talisman on David Turnbull incident

By Euan Davidson

April 22, 2021

David Turnbull was typically impressive last night, in a difficult game for Celtic.

The Bhoys struggled to a last-gasp draw, but the former Motherwell man was trying his best to make something happen against the Dons. In an action-packed appearance, he hit the bar, took 10 corner kicks, shot the ball five times and nearly got himself sent off [WhoScored?].

In a needless bit of needle, Turnbull showed the utter frustration of even the most talented Celtic players this campaign. After a tussle with ex-Celtic man Dylan McGeouch, Turnbull kicked out at the Dons midfielder. Willie Collum, who was very close by, gave a yellow card.

Now, whether or not it was a red is your own call to make. Or, indeed, the SFA’s. But it was an out of character moment for a typically cool customer in David Turnbull.

Reacting on BBC Sportscene, former Motherwell and Scotland man James McFadden had his say.

McFadden commented [BBC]:

“I think he was [lucky to avoid a sending off]. Willie Collum’s right there.

“I think it has to be excessive force, and I think David does go to have a kick, and then kind of sweeps at Dylan McGeouch. He’s taken a huge risk.

“I don’t buy into this ‘he’s not that kind of player’. But I think it sums up Celtic that the most composed player on that team loses his composure in something that’s totally uncharacteristic but I think you’re running a huge risk in doing that right in front of the referee.”

Celtic man David Turnbull: lucky to avoid a sending off?

Again, you can make your own mind up on this one. For what it’s worth, if it hadn’t been a Celtic player, I’d have wanted a red card for what Turnbull did.

Celtic midfielder David Turnbull / (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

It was just utterly needless, and right in front of the typically card-happy Willie Collum. The fact that he didn’t get a straight red for an off the ball incident like that is somewhat bizarre. Like Faddy says, though, it sums this season right up for the Bhoys.

If even the normally calm and collected midfielder is picking up cards for acts of ill discipline, it’s just evidence that the season can’t end quickly enough.

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