Anthony Ralston wasn’t able to comment on the Alexandro Bernabei hand-ball call and subsequent VAR inspired penalty and caution for the Argentinian left-back in the match against Dundee United at Celtic Park at the weekend, which Celtic went on to win 4-2 to go seven points clear at the top of the league looking down on theRangers.
Sing it with me bhoys pic.twitter.com/Xuq2dulhKD
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And the Celtic right-back reckons that with the introduction of VAR Celtic will just have to learn to deal with everything (including the kitchen sink it would seem) that the officials throw at the Scottish Champions and league leaders. That 7 points advantage incidentally remained after St Johnstone made it three wins in a row yesterday afternoon led by the impressive Callum Davidson who has won more major trophies if the Saints than the last five managers of theRangers managed. Incredible really and both goals scored yesterday were first class (entertainment).
“Look, this is the game we are in now. It has been implemented and we need to deal with it,” Tony Ralston stated as he spoke to the mainstream media on Saturday evening, as reported by Scotsman. “We focus on ourselves. We don’t try and let the outside noise affect us. The referees are going to make their decisions and that will be that. We just need to deal with it and, again, the boys done that.”
Rather that talk about the penalty incident, Ralston looked at the wider point, that these long stoppages for VAR analysis negate the way Celtic play and the purpose and intent in our football. The We Never Stop mantra goes out the window with regular five minute pauses which allows the opposition to catch their breath and recover from the effects of the intensity of Celtic’s play.
“It was hard. Stop start. Especially the way we want to play. It’s quick and it’s intense. But this is what we are going to have to deal with,” Ralston noted. “You need to stay focused at all times no matter what happens. Whether it is VAR or it’s a bad a decision, or whether it is the opposition slowing the game down. These are all factors in the game that we need control mentally ourselves which we all do and we are used to now.”
The Scotland international defender wasn’t really going to get dragged into the controversy surrounding the ‘eyes in the back of his head’ penalty, while plenty has been said about it since. It’s worth pointing out that the Dundee United player jumping in front of Bernabei also had his arm behind his back, it’s sort of what you do to try to jump for the ball. He didn’t have eyes in the back of his head either.
The Poetry in this photo, showing two players (Bernabai & Edwards) both jumping to head the ball, both with a random hand behind their back…
Thus demonstrating Bernabai’s hand is in a natural position 😂 pic.twitter.com/A80TMP8ZNz
— Fitzy (@Fitzy__07) November 5, 2022
“I’ve not seen it, so I’m not going to comment. Again, I’m not a referee. These are the decisions they need to make at the time. It can be difficult, but, again, there is a very grey area there that does need to get fixed, but again, we won’t let the outside noise affect us,” was all Tony Ralston was prepared to say about the incident.
He was much more open about the conclusion to the game after Dundee United levelled the scores at 2-2 with 88 minutes on the clock. That produced a grandstand finish from this team that we are seeing time and time again and the noise at Celtic Park was just incredible. The probably heard it over in Clydebank ahead of their goal flash that shut Hugh Keevins up while in full Celtic-bashing flow..
— Tam sellic son (@TamseIIicsonIII) November 6, 2022
“We don’t really see a game as over until it is finished,” Ralston said. “We were aware when the goal went in what we had to do. We’ve been there before and credit to the boys for keeping the right mindset and keeping going until the end.
“I flicked it on at the front post. It is something that we work on in training and analysing. It is important I get across the front post just in case the corner is underhit and I’m there.
“I’m there and it is effective because it is hard to defend that second ball when it gets flicked on with the pace that is on it and Kyogo has done well to get a touch on it.
“But then we go on and get another one as well and that shows the mentality that, okay, we got potenatilly a last-minute winner, but we want to keep on going and get as many as we can.”
Sheer, unadulterated joy from 古橋 亨梧 Kyogo Furuhashi at the end of today’s Celtic – Dundee United game, as Taylor, Jota and Ralston congratulate him. pic.twitter.com/j7azX4S3IZ
— The Fast Lovin’ Sin-Soaked Heathen (@fast_sin) November 5, 2022
Sunday is book day 🍀⭐️📚
Signed copies available at https://t.co/nzslTsy8dI and Amazon, other than Walfrid and the Bould Bhoys which is completely sold out.
We’re really proud of our collection and blown away by your incredible support. 💚 pic.twitter.com/g5ewqRIxLV
— Matt Corr (@Boola_vogue) November 6, 2022
