REO HATATE apologised to Martin O’Neill following his red card in Celtic’s backs-to-the-wall 2-2 Europa League draw against Bologna in Italy last night.
The Japanese midfielder put the Hoops ahead in the fifth minute, but was then booked twice in the space of three minutes before being dismissed by Greek referee Vasileios Fotia.
It left the Hoops with only 10 men with over an hour to play against the Serie A side.
Incredibly, Auston Trusty doubled the visitors’ advantage just before the interval, but it took a valiant effort from the Parkhead men to gain a crucial point as the hosts fought back to level the encounter.
GOING DOWN…Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson hits the deck following the challenge from Reo Hatate that earned the Celt his first booking.
After a memorable performance from his players, O’Neill revealed: “At half-time, Reo was waiting for me, and at also the end of the game.
“You have to be a bit careful. It looked as if even the ball was going out of play towards me at the time. But I felt that the referee just couldn’t wait to get the yellow card up at the time.
“But I would think that, anyway.”
O’Neill, who was booked for dissent after Hatate’s red card, continued: “Well, obviously the sending-off had a major effect on the game.
“I thought that we played brilliantly, got the goal and looked at a really decent outfit.”
The interim gaffer, speaking to The Scotsman, added: “We spent all of the second-half, or most of it, and the last bit of the first half, defending.
SEEING RED…Reo Hatate is banished for a second foul three minutes later.
“But the effort the team put in, the spirit they showed, the willingness to get blocks in, to defend the penalty box in the manner in which they did, I thought was really, really splendid.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance – that’s all, a chance – of qualifying. And from that viewpoint, I’m delighted.
“My own view is that if we had stayed with 11 men, I think we would have won the game.”
Celtic can hoist their points tally to 11 if they beat Utrecht in the final outing at Parkhead on Thursday evening.
That should be enough to see them secure a place in the knock-out stages of the competition.
In the meantime, O’Neill is now preparing his players for Sunday’s vital Premiership encounter with Hearts at Tynecastle.
REO SEES RED AS 10 HEROES HOLD OUT
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