VAR sets out stall for season climax

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Having already overruled erroneous officials on two occasions, yesterday’s Video Assistant Referee could bear no more and declined to confirm the ball struck Joe Newell’s arm before he scored for Hibernian.

Bad though that decision was, it was nothing on the second half incident when a penalty was not awarded to Celtic.  Josh Campbell, who was already on a yellow card, shoved Benjamin Nygren off the field with both hands inside the box.  It was a stonewall penalty and a similar incident to the foul given against Sebastian Tounekti which led to the Hibs equaliser.  Campbell should have received a second yellow, reducing Hibs to 9 men for the second week running.

The VAR team was not prepared to go there.  They could do nothing about Celtic’s onside goal.  Jamie McGrath’s studs to the shin of Alistair Johnston was equally undeniable.  A line was drawn, Celtic were getting no more.

This is how it is going to be between now and the end of the league campaign.  I predict Celtic will get a soft penalty in the Scottish Cup Final, “proof” that these things even themselves out.  In the league, anything that can be overlooked will be overlooked.  You know decisions against Celtic are laughable when even Kris Boyd confirms it.

Celtic dominated the encounter even before the 21st minute red card, but failed to test stand-in keeper Jordan Smith often enough.  The return to the starting line-up of Alistair Johnston brought the equaliser. The fullback timed his run and cross perfectly, leaving Daizen Maeda the simplest of tap-ins.

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From then until late in the second half, Celtic fans were thinking, “When’s he going to bring on Kelechi?”  Our 29-year-old striker is by the length of the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow the most talented player in Scotland, who looks like he is playing against schoolboys.  Getting the best out of him over the next three games will determine the outcome of the league.

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351 Comments

  1. Better start from Hearts, finding a few more forward passes….

     

    Should target TavPen, he’ll always haul you down if you get past him…

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  4. Can only imagine the comments on here about our defence if we’d lost that goal

  5. leftclicktic on

    Standing at back door and heard roar from my mate a few doors away. Knew diets had scored.

     

    Blow the final whistle CSC

  6. Thought early in first half that hearts were happy with a draw. Will they try to win?

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  8. if someone is going to win tonight, I hope it’s the Huns. A Hearts win would also be a massive boost for them and keep them ahead of us on points and at least 5 goals.

  9. the long wait is over on

    CELTIC MAC on 4TH MAY 2026 6:45 PM

     

    Moonshot from TavPen….

     

     

    ———

     

     

    Things are shaping up nicely for Brother Beaton to give him a chance to earn his moniker.

     

     

    Inconceivable to me that Rangers don’t get a game , and maybe season , changing decision if this stays as is.

  10. Is Beaton doing his usual walk about the park getting in the way or is that just for us

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  12. From FF:

     

     

    “As soon as anyone changes it against Rohl he stands there stupified like a deer in headlights.”

     

     

    “Rohl is utterly awful at anticipating changes and reacting to the tactical tweaks other managers make.’

     

     

    Hearts score 2-1

  13. Shankland scores

     

    2-1 Hearts

     

    Not the best score for us but fine for the mo

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  15. Not saying he’s world class but that’s a world class finish from Shankland.

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  18. That weird moment when you’re hoping for a Hun goal. Of course Motherwell could stump the Hearts on Friday.