DEFIANT Martin O’Neill watched Hibs win 2-1 at Parkhead to put a dent in Celtic’s bid for a fifth successive title and insisted: “We are far from out of this.”
The champions are now six points behind leaders Hearts with a game in hand and Auston Trusty, red-carded for the second time this season, will miss Sunday’s crucial encounter at Ibrox and the trip to Pittodrie three days later.
The American central defender was dismissed after the intervention of VAR’s Grant Irvine who then chose to dismiss a solid claim for a penalty-kick following Jack Iredale’s blatant grab at Liam Scales’ shirt as the Republic of Ireland international attempted to get on the end of a right-wing corner-kick.
It was 1-1 at the time of Trusty’s banishment in the 74th minute – after Benjamin Nygren ‘s 18th goal of the season had wiped out the visitors’ opener from Felix Passlack – and the Hoops were hit by a classic suck-punch in the 87th minute.
BAWL BHOY…Martin O’Neill makes his feelings known as the tension grows.
Celtic, despite being a man short, were pushing for the points-clincher when the Edinburgh side broke and Kai Andrews was allowed too much time to line up a shot from the edge of the box before whipping an effort low past the helpless Kasper Schmeichel at his left-hand post.
It was O’Neill’s first league loss in the east end of Glasgow in 21 years when the Easter Road club inflicted a 3-1 defeat on April 30 2005, a reverse that played a significant part in the Hoops, with three games to go, losing their crown by one point.
Trusty’s red card arrived when he attempted to break free from Jamie McGrath who was holding onto the centre-back at a corner-kick.
A clearly disappointed O’Neill said: “In terms of performance, I can’t ask for much more. We put heart and soul into it. Of course, the sending-off has a big bearing on the game.
“We’re trying to force a winner, trying to press on and it changes the momentum.
“I’ve just spoken to the referee and he said that if VAR hadn’t intervened then he was just going to speak to the two players about holding each other.
“I think that would have been the right decision. VAR have intervened and said it’s violent conduct.
HOLD ON…Liam Scales is grabbed by Hibs defender Jack Iredale as he goes for a corner-kick. VAR, astoundingly, thought there was no offence.
“Is it an example of VAR re-refereeing the game? They’ve been doing it for years, so that’s not going to change.
“I’ve spoken to Auston. At the end of the day, you can’t do this if they’re the rules now.
“It doesn’t matter if someone is holding onto you in an attempt to break away. You can’t thrust in the manner he did to get away.
“Will we appeal? 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.”
On the Scales no penalty-kick ruling, O’Neill 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.
OFF DAY…Auston Trusty sees red for the second time this season.
O’Neill, speaking to the Scottish Sun, continued: “It’s a setback, but we are far from finished. Domestically, it’s a tough ask for us, but we’re still there fighting.
“If we show the same application we did against Hibs, I think we’ll still be in contention.
“The message from us is that we are far from out of this.
“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 had a big effect because we had the momentum at that stage. We had some chances second-half, but if you don’t put them away there’s a possibility at the other end.”
On Trusty’s dismissal and the penalty-kick judgement, Hibs gaffer David Gray, who watched his side win at the venue in 16 years, added: “I think at the red, you can’t do that.
“You can’t lift your hands with that aggression. That’s violent conduct and a clear and obvious red.
“The penalty decision I’ve seen from one angle. There was a coming-together and he goes down.
“If it gets given on the field, it probably doesn’t get overturned and it went with us on the day.”
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