MARTIN O’NEILL left Paisley last night happy and puzzled following Celtic’s 2-1 triumph over St Mirren that maintained the team’s 100 per cent Premiership sequence this season.
Second-half strikes from Liam Scales and Yang Hyun-jun did the trick for the champions after the hosts had led at the interval through a penalty-kick from Nikolas Agrafiotis.
O’Neill was delighted with the character and never-say-die spirit of his players, but he was still confused by two VAR calls that wiped out what looked like a couple of legitimate goals from Camilo Duran and teenager Shim Mheuka, one in each half.
NET LOSS…Camilo Duran and the ball – plus a St Mirren defender – are over the line, but VAR ruled out the Colombian’s ‘goal’.
Reflecting on the contentious calls from VAR’s Don Robertson and the onfield judgement of referee Ryan Lee, the veteran Hoops team chief said: “I would probably be more unhappy about it if we had not won the game.
“It was the same last season, as well, I’ve never seen so many crooked lines in my life.
“You just cannot celebrate. It’s the first thing you think.”
O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “When we scored, or thought we’d scored in the first-half, it felt as if Yang, when he’s had the shot, that if it’s coming off it must be somebody rushing in to put the ball in the net.
“And even then I thought that must be a goal. And then for it to be ruled offside.
“So, you cannot celebrate. That goes for every manager, every coaching staff. You just can’t do it until it’s finally decided.”
NO GOAL…Shim Mheuka leaves St Mirren keeper Jacob Chapman helpless, but the effort is wiped out by a contentious offside call.
It was the same story in the first minute of stoppage-time when substitute Mheuka knocked in what looked like his first goal for the Hoops after arriving from Chelsea during the week on a season-long loan.
The frontman’s celebrations were cut short when VAR called the match official to have a second look on his touchline monitor and, once again, the effort was wiped out for offside.
O’Neill will be hoping VAR takes the night off when Celtic face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday.
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