Referee’s ‘Honest Mistake’ Robs Celtic but Title Dream is Far from Over

Just in from the game, which was a frustrating night when it just didn’t click for Celtic against a theRangers side lacking in confidence but desperate to keep their Champions League hopes alive. As David Potter notes below, it’s perhaps a better result for Glasgow City who now have both Celtic and tonight’s victors five points adrift with four to play.

What’s interesting though is that City come to Celtic Park next midweek and have to play theRangers on the last day of the season. Assuming, for a moment Celtic win the next three matches (Partick Thistle, Glasgow City and Hibs) and theRangers – chasing the Champions League spot – win their games up to the last game, while City lose to Celtic but drop nothing else going into the last day.

City will be two points clear of Celtic and theRangers, with Celtic likely to have the best goal difference at that stage. Celtic are at home to Hearts which would take us ahead of Glasgow City if they lose or draw.

And if theRangers want to appear in the Champions League they will have to beat City on the last day to finish on the same points total as Celtic with Glasgow City dropping down to third with no Champions League football.

Lots of ifs and buts in there but the goal difference advantage could yet deliver a title for Fran Alonso’s side.

In Fran’s post match interview with Celtic TV (see below) he talks about the goal Celtic scored in the first half that appeared to be perfectly fine and the referee did NOT disallow it for any immediately apparent infringement to him. Remarkably he seemed to change his mind as the Celtic players celebrated.

Now for those watching on Sky TV in the warmth of your own home, (it was baltic in Airdrie) you may have a better understanding on why that goal was disallowed. But Fran Alonso has watched it back and said that there was nothing at all wrong with it. Ladies and gentleman, it was an honest mistake.

I went down to see our photographer at half-time and he had numerous photographs of the incident and using his camera we had a look at the still frames of every movement in that goal, searching for the reason the goal was disallowed. We were looking hard for something – anything at all – that could justify the decision. There was none.

Their goal was a good one, as David Potter points out below. However he is wrong about the size of the crowd, that’s the busiest I’ve seen the Excelsior stadium since Celtic played Albion Rovers there in the Scottish Cup in the Invincible season. The main stand was really busy and the traffic jam approaching the ground was considerable and time consuming.

It’s not over yet. As we used to say in the 1990s, Keep the Faith.

Here’s the SWPL1 table after tonight’s match – note the goal difference advantage that Celtic currently have,  Fran Alonso will be looking to add to that this weekend.

Here’s Fran Alonso’s view…

And here’s what David Potter thought of it all watching on Sky television…

Well, I suppose we had to lose to them some time, but it was still a disappointment after the Youth Cup final and that other semi final last Sunday. Celtic were not without their chances – the one that fell to Kelly Clark looked like the best – but it was the one goal (a good one it has to be said) scored by Kirsty Howat of theRangers which won the day. I thought that Caitlin Hayes’ goal in the first half was a good one, though.

Celtic celebrate as the referee points to the centre circle …then changes his mind!

The crowd was disappointing again, and the game was mediocre with the result really only benefitting Glasgow City who are now five points ahead of both Celtic and theRangers. Only five games are left, but the next one is Celtic v Glasgow City and it will be at Celtic Park which, I have always argued, is the best place for a team called Celtic to play. I hope they get a bigger attendance next week than they did at that soulless Airdrie stadium which always has the air of depression around it.

Still we mustn’t get too greedy. We cannot really expect to beat theRangers every single night on the tele. Just off to watch You Tube to see last night’s game again, and maybe Sunday’s as well. Oh, and there’s a League Cup final too! You Tube is absolutely full of good Celtic stuff, and I recommend it for you on Saturday in preference to any rubbish you can see on TV on that day.

David Potter

Here’s  a perplexed Caitlin Hayes talking to Sky Sports about the referee’s decision to disallow her goal…

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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