It’s fair to say that last night wasn’t a game that will live long in the memory but three points are three points and we move on, knowing that the best efforts of the ludge-VAR desperados ended in failure yet again.
Since its introduction in October at Celtic’s visit to Tynecastle just one call has gone Celtic’s way, the awarding of a penalty kick at the game away to Livingston in the closing stages of a game that was already won and of course Giakoumakis missed that spot kick. Other that that exception that proves the rule, the Scottish FA’s ludge-VAR operators sit in their cupboard in Clydebank and conceive new ways to interpret the rules of the game to suit their own ends.
Dundee Utd
✅ Bogus penalty against for an arm in natural position (given at 1-0)
✅ Chest high challenge on GG – reviewed and, incredibly no booking (at 1-1)
✅ Horrible lunge on Kyogo, stick on red – not even reviewed (at 4-2)— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) December 21, 2022
Amazingly the reverse seems to be true for the other club that has fallen behind in the title race, you know the only one that’s yet to concede a penalty this season. Celtic though will say nothing, with even Ange Postecoglou closing down any questions on the repeated VAR controversies that always seem to go against his side.
Referee Euan Anderson signals after the completion of a VAR Review to conclude that the goal, scored by Liel Abada, is ruled out for offside during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Livingston FC at on December 21, 2022 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
He can look at his side’s record since VAR was introduced to Scottish football with the satisfaction that he has a 100% win record despite them doing their worst. And last night Ange maintained his no comment approach towards VAR as he discussed the 2-1 win over Livingston that takes Celtic’s lead back up to nine points at the top of the league looking down on theRangers.
Motherwell
✅ Jota goal ‘offside’ – bougus replay (at 1-0)
✅ Leg breaker on Starfelt, stick on red – reviewed, but not even a yellow (at 1-0)— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) December 21, 2022
“The result is obviously positive but the performance wasn’t one of our best,” the Celtic manager told BBC Sportsound. “The first half was okay, we controlled the game the way we wanted to, I was just really disappointed that we got into some great areas and put great balls across the box and we didn’t have bodies in there.
“Part of our principles of play is that we need certain people to hit certain areas and they weren’t doing it today and that’s the discipline we need. At 2-0, the game should’ve been over for us. We conceded a soft goal, which we’re pretty good at not doing. We just lost concentration and then in the second half, it was okay, but we just never really got to grips with dominating the game the way we wanted to.
“When you’re faced with congested boxes you’ve got to find ways to get in behind and we did that a number of times. As I said, I’m disappointed we didn’t have people in the areas they know they should’ve been to capitalise on it. Scoring goals is the hardest part of our game and we’ve got ways of doing that but you’ve got to be disciplined to get into the areas you should be.”
Aberdeen
Amazingly no VAR used.
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) December 21, 2022
Asked by the BBC if Liel Abada could now make a case to Postecoglou for more minutes, Ange said: “That’s not the way it works, you don’t put in requests for game time. He’s done very well and the thing with Liel is he’s got lots to improve and every day he’s looking to improve to be a better sort of player.
“He was great tonight and took the game to them but even he I thought a couple of times he should’ve been in to be dangerous and get goals. It was a bit of an affirmation for him about his role in the team.”
Ange Postecoglou after the 2-1 win over Livingston. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
A worry for the Celtic boss was the loss of Anthony Ralston through injury, meaning that Greg Taylor had to move over to the right hand side of the pitch. With Josip Juranovic not back until after Christmas as he’s on his post-World Cup week-off and Ally Johnston not eligible to play until 2 January, Celtic could have an issue at right back for the game against St Johnstone and maybe even at Easter Road against Hibs next Wednesday night.
Asked about Ralston’s injury Postecoglou said: “We’ll see, I hope it’s nothing too serious.”
Livingston
✅ Clear handball, reviewed, no penalty (at 0-0}
✅ Abada goal wrongly disallowed after a defender error, 5 min review to get to the wrong decision (at 2-1)— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) December 21, 2022
What's the rule on that Abada disallowed goal? Surely the defender heads it back and it's a defensive error, like if someone was off and intercepted a poor passback to score? 🤔
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) December 21, 2022
I’m convinced the length of time taken to make these decisions is part of the plan .
It’s ridiculous that it should take 4 minutes to make a decision based on the backward header of the Livingston defender . It was intentional.. therefore no offside . . It wasn’t deemed offside by the linesman nor referee .
I’m sure , with less than 20mins left to play , the Masonic plan was to increase tension in the ground , apply pressure on Celtic , and hope for an equaliser / penalty in the closing stages .
Well if our manager wants to say they made a decision so we just accept it! Then it will go on and on. Grow a pair for god sake Celtic or has the 5 way agreement got us by the nuts already?