Sam Cosgrove was shown a red card following a challenge on Kris Ajer in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Aberdeen. The striker has been in brilliant form and scored his 20th goal of the season against the Hoops before being sent off. And following the game, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes described the challenge as a “brilliant tackle”.
As expected Aberdeen decided to appeal the referee Euan Anderson’s decision but the decision has gone against them. And as a result, Cosgrove will now miss Aberdeen’s Boxing Day game against Livingston as well as next Sunday’s clash against Hearts.
McInnes had claimed that Neil Lennon had agreed with him that the challenge was not worth a red card. But it looks like the Celtic boss has changed his opinion after having a second look at it following the game. Talking about Cosgrove’s sending off, Lennon told Sky Sports News:
“He did get a lot of the ball, but there was intent there.
“I didn’t think he needed to make the challenge in that area and the way he did it.
“Ten years ago I would have been happy with a challenge like that, but with the game as it is now, on the follow-through it maybe could have hurt Kristoffer and he is maybe lucky that he didn’t come off with a bad injury or an injury of some sort.
“Looking at it at the time, it was a full-blooded challenge, but when you see it again I am thinking: ‘Why are you making a challenge like that? You are setting yourself up for trouble’.
“So, the way the game is, it was probably the correct decision.
“You always worry when a player has left the ground that the excessive force could be dangerous.”
The SFA’s decision will be the last thing on Lennon’s mind at the moment as Celtic travel to Paisley to take on St Mirren in the Premiership.
