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“I was called a little rat,” Celtic manager head-butted by Rangers coach

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Fran Alonso told Sky Sports that he was called a little rat by the Rangers Women’s assistant manager Craig McPherson (pictured below) who approached him from behind and headed the Celtic coach in the back of the head at Broadwood Stadium after Celtic grabbed a sensational 99th minute equaliser against a Rangers side who looked like they had more second half casualties than the British Army at the Somme in a second half full of play-acting and time-wasting from theRangers.

Credit: Sky Sports

And it looks like these tactics had worked as they held onto the lead, gifted to them through an uncharacteristic error from Celtic captain Kelly Clark to allow Hay to tap the ball into the Celtic net for the easiest goal she’ll ever score, to the 99th minute of a disappointing match.

Celtic started with Natalie Ross on the bench and that seemed a glaring tactical error from Fran Alonso as Celtic struggled to get into the game. Yet the Hoops were denied a stonewall penalty when Caitlin Hayes was wrestled to the ground. There is no VAR in the SWPL and even they would have been hard pressed to say that wasn’t a penalty against Rangers.

Ross appeared as a half-time substitute for Otto, who failed to make any impression on the match in a dismal first half showing. Celtic suddenly were on the ascendancy with the home side wasting time and trying desperately to hold onto their lead. In the closing stages Flint was penalised inside the Rangers box for absolutely nothing as the player seemed to twist he leg in the dreadful artificial surface. The latest long delay for one of their players to receive treatment – this time justified – would cost them dearly.

Pam Tajonar put some amount of spin on the ball as she took a 99th minute goal-kick to Kelly Clark, who wasted no time in playing it straight through the middle of theRangers defence. Flint and the players surrounding her all missed the ball as it sailed to the desperation-time centre forward Caitlin Hayes who got the break off the ball and found herself hammering it into theRangers net, amid wild Celtic celebrations.

Alonso afterwards made a point, as he always does, of shaking hands with all of the opposition and just as he was fulfilling this sporting gesture on the park the unnamed Ibrox coach approached him from behind and put the head into the Celtic manager. Alonso told Sky Sports that he had no idea who the guy was and confirmed that he had not spoken to him all night. He also confirmed what the Rangers coach said to him. “I was called a little rat,” the Celtic manager told Sky Sports.

Fran Alonso told Sky Sports: “As you can see from there [the pictures], someone came in from behind. I never talked to him the whole game. It’s always disappointing to concede a goal in the last minute. I totally get it. I was called a little rat, I don’t know why.”

Celtic have now had a coach scarred for life after boing hit by a bottle a Ibrox, a Celtic fan lucky to be alive after being hit by a bottle thrown by a Rangers fan and Joe Hart’s goal-mouth targeted by yobs throwing broken glass onto the pitch. Now this has spilled over to the SWPL with the Celtic manager being attacked on the pitch by a Rangers employee.

Watch for yourselves…

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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