SKIPPER Callum McGregor backed boss Brendan Rodgers at expressing his disappointment and bewilderment over Daizen Maeda’s ‘no goal’ decision in the 2-1 loss to Hibs at Easter Road yesterday.
After conceding early and late in the first-half, the champions hauled one back through the Japanese raider in the 68th minute and were forcing play in search of the equaliser.
The visitors thought they had achieved parity in the 83rd minute when Maeda whipped in a rebound from keeper Jordan Smith following a cross from the byline by Alistair Johnston on the right.
HAND’S UP IF YOU’RE UNHAPPY…Callum McGregor makes an appeal at Easter Road.
Referee Steven McLean awarded the goal, his standside assistant agreed – and then VAR, with Alan Muir at controls, stepped in to interrupt proceedings.
After a lengthy stoppage, the effort was chalked off. Celtic were aghast, Hibs were relieved and the hosts weathered the late onslaught to take the points and inflict only the second league defeat on the Hoops this season.
Referring to VAR, McGregor said: “We’ve seen all the angles. The bench was convinced it was a goal. The linesman didn’t put his flag up, so the onfield decision is a goal.
“From what we’ve seen then, it’s a big call to overturn.
“That’s part of the game. People make mistakes and you have to accept it and get on with it.”
Celtic, though, maintained their 13-point advantage at the top of the table with their nearest challengers collapsing 2-0 to St Mirren amid a cacophony of boos and jeers at Ibrox.
IN OR OUT? Alistair Johnston prepares to fire over the cross from the byline that created the controversy.
Rodgers’ men are now preparing for Tuesday’s visit of Aberdeen and McGregor, speaking to the MailOnline, continued: “It was a bad day at the office, but we have to dust ourselves off quickly.
“We have another coming up and then another game [at St Mirren]at the weekend.
“We’re disappointed with the result and the performance, but we’ve been here before.
“We understand that you have to legislate for one of them every so often and we don’t have too many bad days.”
The 31-year-old onfield leader added: “We go down after a couple of minutes and if the tails get up, it gives them energy.
“Credit to them, they played well, they had a good game plan and they got their goals at the right time.”
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