The St Mirren boss wasn’t happy the decision in the 1-0 defeat went against his side
Celtic defender Liam Scales sends the ball into his own net against St Mirren
Sky Sports duo Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton have backed up the match officials who chalked off an own goal by Celtic defender Liam Scales against St Mirren.
Interim boss Martin O’Neill made is five Premiership wins from five since returning to the Celtic hot seat to pile the pressure on league leaders Hearts thanks to Callum McGregor’s late goal.
However, the game was not without controversy after Ireland international Scales fired the ball beyond Kasper Schmeichel with the game goalless.
St Mirren star Conor McMenamin would be judged to be in an offside position and applying enough pressure to the centre-back to be flagged in an offside position by the linesman.
Referee Kevin Clancy would pause the game while it was checked by Matthew MacDermid in the VAR room – before the decision was rubber stamped.
Following the full-time whistle, Buddies’ boss Stephen Robison wasn’t happy with the call as he told Sky Sports: “The fine margins of football have gone against us again, some we are in control of and some we are not.
“We created good chances that we didn’t take and we were beaten by an absolute wonder goal, that is the fine lines when you play against Celtic.
“We have a goal disallowed that they will probably make some sort of reason up about why to justify it. Conor McMenamin is not in line with the goalkeeper and he doesn’t touch the defender, and the defender has got his eyes on Jonah Ayunga.
(Image: SNS Group)
“It’s a subjective decision and the referee isn’t even called over for that, it’s hard to take.
“It’s four goals in four games that have been disallowed, and no doubt there will be some sort of phrase made up for disallowing it and the referee not being called over.”
Former Rangers man Boyd quickly corrected Robinson: “I agree with the decision.
“The linesman had his flag up and he is offside. A lot of people will think Liam Scales is stretching for it, but there is no doubt when he turns he will see McMenamin out of the corner of his eye., There is no doubt about it.
“If he doesn’t see him, there is no need for him to stretch because he is getting his body in there to protect it and play it to the goalkeeper. That is why his leg is outstretched and he puts it in the back of the net.
“As soon as he sees McMenamin coming into his eye line, he kicks the ball. The linesman gave it on the pitch. There was no need to go to the monitor, because he is proven correct.
Celtic hero Sutton added: ‘There is no doubt. I am surprised at Stephen Robinson, he has played football and coached. He would understand that in his peripheral vision he will see him before poking it into his own net. I thought Stephen Robinson was talking rubbish there.”
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