Celtic boss talks Hibs, VAR, red card and penalty appeal - and issues 'not over yet' warning to leaders Hearts
David Gray’s men bagged historic away win over Hoops - for first time in SIXTEEN years
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has weighed in on the red card that gave Hibs the chance to make history with a first away win over the Hoops since 2010. And the veteran gaffer has claimed that “some years ago” his team WOULD have been awarded a penalty for an offence cleared by VAR in yesterday’s thriller.
David Gray’s men became the first Hibs side to beat Celtic away from home in over 16 years when Kai Andrews scored late to secure a 2-1 triumph. On a day when fellow January signing Felix Passlack opened the scoring, only for Benjamin Nygren to equalise, there were two major flashpoints involving the video assistant referee.
First Auston Trusty was sent off after a review confirmed that he’d violently lashed out at Jamie McGrath, the Hibs midfielder suffering a shoulder injury as the Celtic defender punched his arm amid the usual grappling at a corner kick. When the set piece was eventually delivered, Liam Scales tumbled under a challenge from Jack Iredale on the edge of the six-yard box.
Despite some confusion in the stadium, with the big screen and the match announcer at Celtic Park informing fans that a VAR review had shown the offence to have taken outside the penalty box, O’Neill said he’d received a different explanation from match official Matthew MacDermid.
Hoops boss on ‘wee bit strange’ penalty call
The Irishman said: “The referee’s words were he didn’t hold onto him long enough but it seems a wee bit strange. He’s grabbing someone’s shirt as he’s making a move to get the ball.
“Some years ago it was a penalty. But VAR, they’ve passed that one on.”
On the red card, O’Neill revealed: “I’ve just had a word with the referee. He said he was going to have a word with the two players then VAR intervened and said it was violent conduct.
“I’ve spoken to him (Trusty). At the end of the day, you can’t do this if that’s the rules now.
“It doesn’t matter if someone is holding onto you in an attempt to breakaway. You can’t thrust in the manner he did to get away.”
Notably, the Celtic boss conceded that any attempt to get the red card overturned was likely to fail on the most basic grounds, answering a question about whether the club would appeal the decision by saying: “Personally I wouldn’t have thought so. The referee has explained to me that’s what VAR said.
“It was violent conduct. So I don’t think anyone will change their minds.”
Pushed on whether VAR was now re-refereeing the game, O’Neill said: “They’ve been doing it for years so that’s not going to change.”
Hearts the winners as Rangers AND Celtic slip up
Both Celtic and Rangers dropping points yesterday was huge for league leaders Hearts, O’Neill conceding: “It’s a setback. But we are far from finished. It’s tough, it’s a setback.
“We are six points behind Hearts. Domestically it’s a tough ask for us but we’re still there fighting.
“I don’t know what happened today. This game was always going to be difficult.
“Hibs are a fine side and they were unlucky not to get anything in the derby against Hearts. You saw Livingston get a result against Rangers so the games are difficult. I knew this to be.
“It’s a game we could and - on the balance of play - maybe should have won. We had a lot of possession and played a lot of good stuff but possession doesn’t win it.
“We played some really fantastic football. We went in 1-1 at half time and we should probably have been in front. The sending off has a big effect. We had the momentum at that stage. We had some chances second half and if you don’t put them away there’s a possibility at the other end.”
Celtic fans seemed to begin celebrating prematurely when news of Livingston’s second goal against Rangers came through in Glasgow. But O’Neill cleared them of accusations of simply assuming that a win against Hibs would be delivered, in time.
“I thought they were willing us on to get another goal,” he said. “I didn’t realise that was what they heard. I didn’t know the Rangers result until the end of the game.
“The support was terrific. If that’s the reason then it might have been. The fans realise this has been a difficult season for Celtic and we’re fighting. If we show the same application we did today, I think we’ll still be in contention.
“It is tough when you’re in charge of the game and pressing then you’re likely to take a few chances at the other end. Even with ten, we were still pressing but the minute someone breaks the press you’re in danger because the extra man helps.
“I definitely can’t fault the players in terms of effort and drive and determination. We’d just like to have won the game. But it’s not over yet.”