CELTIC came from a goal down to earn a well deserved draw at Rennes’ Roazhon Park tonight. It as a game where the inconsistent Spanish referee was at the centre of the action all night long. He got his first big decision correct when Kris Ajer conceded a penalty by grabbing the Rennes striker with both hands and then kicking him.It was crazy play from the usually assured Norwegian and what was particularly annoying was that Celtic had had the better of the play up to that point.
M’Baye Niang dusted himself down, sent Fraser Forster the wrong way and gave Rennes a lead that they hardly deserved.
Elyounoussi was caught on his heels before that and was thus six inches away from a tap in after fine build up play down the left hand side with Bolingoli putting in a sensational cross that Edouard cleverly dummied and the Norwegian stretched but just came up short with the home side’s goal open.
Neil Lennon was 1-0 down at the interval the last time he brought a Celtic side to the Brittany capital in 2011 and if the mistake that night was even worse than tonight’s mistake from Kris Ajer, that would have been of little consolation for the Irishman.
However just as he did the last time Lennon sent out his players to go about the job of winning the match and with Celtic well on top Ryan Christie was first to a ball at the end of the Rennes penalty area and was clearly caught with xx standing own his foot.
The officials were both nearby but incredibly failed to award the spot-kick to the visitors. Be in no doubt about it, it was a stonewaller.
Celtic were not to be denied and fine play by James Forrest skinned the Rennes skipper whose challenge took out the Celtic winger and this time the Spanish whistler pointed to the spot.
Ryan Christie made no mistake to level the tie.
Oliver Ntcham replaced Elyounoussi with 57 minutes played and then Bolingoli, who had been careless in his distribution, went off with what looked like a groin injury and Jonny Hayes came off the bench. Whisper it but Jonny Hayes could be the better option for these away days in Europe.
Hayes won a strong challenge against Hamari Traoreat the edge of the penalty box with the home side trying to buy a penalty and get Hayes booked. With time running out Rennes threw on two attackers and Celtic replaced the tiring Edouard with Bayo.
Bayo got a deserved yellow after a challenge on Rennes skipper da Silva who was completely knocked out. He was carried off on the stretcher reducing Rennes, who had used made all their substitutions, to ten men, just as the Assistant’s board signalled 5 minutes of stoppage time.
Celtic sensed a winner and Olivier Ntcham fired in a powerful effort which the Rennes keeper spilled. Bayo followed in and the keeper rolled about in agony holding his head. The referee was not impressed with his antics then incredibly changed his mind to pull out a second yellow for the Celtic striker. It was an astonishing decision by the Spanish official who incorrectly denied Celtic a stonewall penalty and sent off a player wrongly.
Cluj surprisingly beat Lazio 2-1 in the other game after going a goal behind, a result that suits Celtic fine.
Man of the Match – Christopher Jullien
