Hardly a revelation worthy of headlines but as I grabbed the remote to turn over from the Celtic match on Sunday beads of perspiration glistened on my arms and I realised my heart rate was clearly faster than normal.
Far be it from me to suggest that Celtic are attempting to kill off their older fan base but seriously with three must win games left I’m not sure I’ll be here to cover the crowning of champions of the SPL if this keeps up.
As is their want these days the ‘Tic flew from the traps and were “at it” from the ref's whistle but once again not having a recognised striker meant chances were squandered.
Then what seemed to have become obligatory for Hibs in recent matches - the red card.
A pretty stupid, reckless challenge by Jamie McGrath on the recently returning Alastair Johnston saw the Irish forward walk that lonely path off the park, but only after a VAR check.
Now we all know that theatrics play a large part in the game, attempts to gain advantages by fooling the ref, the “dark arts” if you like, but Johnston's painful cry as McGrath's boot made contact just above the ankle was unmistakable and difficult to ignore. However, David Dickinson (not to be confused with that other orange b***d of Bargain Hunt “fame”) decided this was worthy of only a yellow card and but for the intervention of the Video Assistant Ref he (McGrath) would have escaped the punishment that every fan in Easter Road and watching around the world felt was fitting.
Reduced to ten men Hibs came to life, battened down the hatches and made it much more difficult than it should have been for the current Champions.
The clock ticked and the first half almost over when a cross from Johnston met the boot of Maeda who fired past Hibs' Smith and in for Celtics opener again only after a VAR check to ensure Maedas eyebrows weren’t offside. The goal stood and for a brief moment we breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Parity was controversially restored less than five mins later when Joe Newell assisted Twice by his arm/hand controlled the ball and put it into the net. Again VAR took a look and decided no offence took place. Despite the rules being crystal clear on this one the members of the LOL that are Scotland's referees, linesmen and related brethren chose to ignore the rules, the SFA later releasing a statement to Sky Sports claiming “insufficient evidence”. If Newell had caught it and thrown it into the net I’m pretty certain at this point the SFA would have let it go.
Some may detect a slight anger in my tone and you’d be right. I want rules that stand for everyone not different interpretations for each club.
Indeed a very similar incident occurred during the Man United v Liverpool match with the Sky Sports commentator stating clearly that if the ball hits the arm or hand the goal cannot stand. It did and after perhaps 20 replays and close ups the decision was right at Old Trafford. The decision at Easter Road was yet again another failure for Scottish refereeing and further evidence that bias can’t be left in the dressing room.
Celtic did go on to win the match. Again, a goal by super sub Ihenancho separating the sides but it would be hard to walk away from this without a bitter aftertaste in the mouth.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Scottish referees shouldn’t be officiating over Scottish matches involving Celtic and The Rangers.
Football isn’t a game here, it’s a religion, an identity and whilst not everyone is a fan of the Glasgow two almost everyone you meet has a preference for one or the other.
As a friend of mine once said “I’m not a football fan, I hate the game but I do hate Rangers a little more than Celtic”
Anyway three points in the bag and a Glasgow Derby at home on Saturday to come here’s hoping the blood pressure can stand it.
Away from Celtic, champions were crowned and goodbyes were said.
Congratulations to:
⚽ St Johnstone - Championship winners
⚽ Inverness Caley - League one winners
⚽ East Kilbride - League two winners
Of course other teams still have play offs to navigate and the winners of these will find their names on these pages.
Commiserations to:
⚽ Livingston - Relegated from the SPL
⚽ Ross County - Relegated from the Championship
⚽ Kielty Hearts - (already stated) relegated from League one
⚽ And finally Edinburgh City despite a final day victory, 5-0 over Dumbarton slip out the leagues altogether.
⚽ Ross County - Relegated from the Championship
⚽ Kielty Hearts - (already stated) relegated from League one
⚽ And finally Edinburgh City despite a final day victory, 5-0 over Dumbarton slip out the leagues altogether.
With joy comes sadness and whether you have any affiliation to a club or not it’s always sad to see any team suffer relegation.
Bank holiday Monday (May 4th - I must remember to message Mark Hamill on BlueSky and say “May the forth be with you Luke” - I’m pretty certain he’s never heard that before and he’ll be in hysterics at my original wit) came the clash of the weekend (least in terms of the SPL title) as The Rangers made the journey to face Hearts at Tynecastle knowing a win is a must at this point or their already slim title hopes would be all but finished. Hearts on the other hand needing a victory to once again open up a gap on their nearest pursuers Celtic.
I think it’s safe to say the match itself wasn’t a classic. It’s what we’ve come to expect recently, two teams on the brink neither can afford to lose so what we’re “entertained” by is a nervy encounter mistakes galore and a few heroics by those who hold their nerve.
As I settled down to watch my money (if id invested any) would have been on The Rangers as they had much more to lose than Hearts. A Hearts defeat and they’d still be top of the league, a Rangers defeat would have far bigger consequences for the Ibrox mafia.
Of course it didn’t take Ian Crocker long to mention the upcoming “Old Firm” which whilst important must be quite irritating for the Jambos - I mean, there’s a massive game happening in front of you, Crocker, FFS, it’s Monday. Sky have all week to worry about the upcoming Glasgow Derby concentrate on this game man.
Rangers were in no mood to give up their title challenge easily and when Sterling fired the visitors ahead in the 23rd minute it looked for all the world like Röhl's tactics were paying off and his team had settled more quickly than a shaky Hearts side. The game sort of fizzled out toward half time and despite some pressure from both sides the half ended with Rangers one point behind Celtic and Hearts.
Love him or hate him you can’t deny McInnes is doing an amazing job at Tynecastle, and whatever he said at half time reinvigorated his troops they stormed into battle after the break with an intensity that was clearly missing in the first 45+. It wasn’t long before this pressure paid off when Kingsley pounced on a rebound, the shot from Kyziridis hitting the post and landing at the foot of the left back and parity restored.
Games like this need a hero and Hearts have theirs in a certain Lawrence Shankland, the 30 year old striker has assumed this role numerous times throughout the season and once again stepped up to the plate and as soon as he made contact with Kingsley's cross in the 77th minute you knew it was game over.
Rangers to their credit did fight for an equaliser but for the despairing 600 fans present and countless others elsewhere it never materialised.
Rangers now find themselves seven points behind Hearts and four behind Celtic. Whilst it’s not mathematically impossible to win the league from this position it’ll take something of a biblical miracle. As club captain James Tavernier has already announced this will be his final season at the ‘Gers questions must also be asked regarding the future of Danny Röhl and many of his squad.
From a Celtic point of view it’s fun to watch the demise of The Rangers, no chance of silverware and potentially ending up third in the league isn’t going to sit well with fans and club custodians alike. A sobering thought that since they returned to the SPL one league title in the bag how much longer can they take to the field to “Simply the best” without opposition fans mocking the irony of it all? Self awareness has left the building.
PS Glasgow Derby as if anyone needs reminding is a lunchtime kick off on Sunday with Hearts facing Motherwell on Saturday at 8pm at Fir Park. Come kick off on Sunday both sides of the Glasgow divide could potentially be a minimum of 6 points behind Hearts (Rangers could be 10) The outcome of the Glasgow Derby could in theory seal the title for Hearts.
All is still to be revealed.
Til next time …
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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