Ange Postecoglou took a break from his usual media duties last week, but was back yesterday and maybe ended up wishing he hadn’t bothered and instead leave the task of dealing with hacks like the BBC Sportsound’s Kheredine Idessane for John Kennedy to endure.

Ange made effective use of his substitutes bench yesterday with four goals and an assist and his assistant manager is more than capable, as he demonstrated though the week, particularly with his Ange tied to a chair remark, of dealing with the mainstream media on his own.

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Celtic v St Mirren – Ange Postecoglou and his Celtic players celebrate after the Scottish Cup fifth round match at Celtic Park, Saturday February 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

But Ange instead put himself back in the firing line and in his latest exchanges with a hack from BBC Sportsound he certainly delivered one or two knock-out responses.

Kheredine Idessane wanted to know what Ange thought of the favourable VAR decision for the stonewall penalty going Celtic’s way after a remarkably long VAR check which resulted in the spot-kick being given and a red card being issued to the St Mirren defender. Don’t think I’ve ever heard a louder penalty claim yesterday with everyone in the stadium seeming to have seen it first time around, other than of course the referee.

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Celtic v St Mirren – Celtic players celebrate after the Scottish Cup fifth round match at Celtic Park, Saturday February 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

So Kheredine Idessane asked Ange about his happiness with the length of the checks and whether or not he was content that a couple of decisions have ‘come back in Celtic’s favour’. IT. WAS. A. STONEWALLER. FOR. HEAVEN’S. SAKE!

“That’s an interesting take,” Ange replied. “I don’t know if there’s a favour barometer, I’m just thinking they’re making decisions. I had my say about VAR a few weeks ago and everyone came at me that I was fuelling conspiracies, so I’ll let the other managers now run the race. I had my say on it.

“I assume the result of the decisions today were correct. If they weren’t correct and as you say they were ‘favourable’ to us, whatever that means, let others judge.”

Idessane didn’t give up on the point, stating that his question was in relation to previous comments from the Celtic manager on VAR decisions.

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Celtic v St Mirren – Celtic s Manager Ange Postecoglou after the Scottish Cup fifth round match at Celtic Park, Saturday February 11, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

“When you talk about a favour, that means we get a decision we’re not supposed to, which has not happened to us. The time it takes is a frustration for everyone at the moment but I’ve had my say on it. There are others in charge of that department.”

With the VAR decsions, on matters on and off the park, being 100% spot on it seems that the BBC Scotland hacks are unhappy that Celtic got a decision (as indeed did St Mirren). They aren’t bothered at all about the latter but can’t bring themselves to accept the former on the day when both penalties were stonewallers and the only real debating point should have been why the match officials were the only people in the stadium not to have seen it.

Without VAR being involved St Mirren would have had a penalty, correctly awarded, but Celtic’s claim would have ended up in the Honest Mistake category from a referee who has contributed greatly on that from down the years.

Here are the match highlights and also the post match chat between Ange Postecoglou and the former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan which is outstanding…