PADDY ROBERTS spoke to Celtic TV after making his come-back as a second half substitute in the goalless draw at Fir Park yesterday. Here’s what he had to say about the injury, his recovery period and being back in a Celtic shirt…
“It was the longest four months of my life. It’s great to be back out there but a shame about the result.
“It has been tough. I came back about a month ago and it’s been about getting the fitness and match sharpness back I had before the injury. I have worked hard to get where I am and hopefully I can kick on now.
“I have felt good in the training in the last few weeks and I knew I would get on at some point. I was trying my best to get a goal but the bar beat me today.
“To miss those big games has been disappointing but if you get injured you have to miss some games. Finishing the season strongly is the task for me now.”
Meanwhile Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson was so mad at the red card decision that he forget to complain about the penalty shout Motherwell had near the end. Jim Craig, writing on The Celtic Star this morning reckons that Craig Thomson should have pointed to the spot after Jack Hendry’s had his arms all over the Motherwell striker.
Robinson’s anger was elsewhere. Motherwell are always angry it seems. He told the match broadcaster afterward…”I think everybody in the studio knows it. Certainly I didn’t believe it was a red card.
“Two people have brushed against each other so if it had been a yellow card I don’t think anyone would have been screaming and crying for red cards.
“The same referee has sent off five Motherwell players now and he hasn’t sent off anyone else from any other Premiership side.
“All I wanted to talk about was how well our players did but the game is going to be overshadowed by a decision again.
“I didn’t think there was very much in the challenge at all. If one player pushes someone and the other brushes his leg against him – it certainly wasn’t a stamp as was indicated, not in any shape or form.
“I have seen it back numerous times. Everyone knows that.”
Motherwell, to be fair to them, are putting their money where their mouths are this time around and plan to appeal the red card. Last time, you may recall they reckoned it wasn’t worth the effort.
Few people at the game or watching on TV would have come to the same conclusion that Thomson did, and Robinson is correct in suggesting a couple or yellows would have been sufficient. However that does not exclude him confronting Celtic skipper Scott Brown at half time. It would be interesting if that incident finds its way into the referees report.
We reported on Brendan’s comments on the match last night but to recap, on the red card incident, the Celtic boss said this:
“Just looking at it again, there was obviously a collision of both players, I thought it was our free kick and Broony looks like he is getting up and trying to push the boy off to get up and get on with the game.
“I think there was a little bit of contact, but Craig is looking straight at it and sees something a bit more clear with more intent on it.
“Obviously the boy will be disappointed to be sent off. That’s twice he has been sent off against us now.
“Craig has maybe been looking at the intention of the kick out.”
Watching back last night the broadcaster called the late penalty that Celtic got in the 1-1 draw between the teams at Fir Park in November ‘controversial’ presumably because Motherwell didn’t think it was a penalty.
You may recall that their board members went round the press room with a laptop trying to prove that Willie Collum had got it wrong and that Callum McGregor had dived. Then the next day alternative footage emerged that proved that Collum was spot on with the penalty award.
So why weren’t Sky calling it a ‘stonewaller’ rather than a ‘controversial’ penalty?
And as for Andy Walker, don’t get us started!
