There seems to be a media narrative going around since yesterday that somehow Livingston boss David Martindale was ‘fuming’ at the refereeing performance in yesterday’s 3-1 defeat to Livingston.
Celtic seemed to back at their best after two stuttering displays in the league that saw them drop points against Hibs at Easter Road and struggle to a 2-0 win against St Mirren at Celtic Park.
The intensity and hard pressing of the team seemed to be back after a very impressive ten minute second half display after the half time break, the Hoops found themselves 3-1 up having gone in at the break with a 1-0 lead.
But as all the focus seemed to be on the refereeing performance rather than Celtic’s clinical performance, the media decided to run with how David Martindale was fuming at the referee Nick Walsh.
The Daily Record, Football Scotland, PLZ Soccer and Scottish Daily Express all led with that line but anyone that heard or watched his interview would tell you he was far from fuming.
In fact, he was extremely complimentary about a brilliant Celtic performance and admitted that his team deserved very little of the game.
In his post match press conference on Sky Sports News, Martindale said, “I think Celtic were very, very good. Very, very clinical. I think Celtic were back to their best or close to their best today.
“I though they were very good on and off the ball in the transition. The intensity of their play, the intensity on and off the ball was very good.
“And I think you need a wee bit of luck when you are facing either of the Old F*rm, home or away.
“I think for talking sake there’s a refereeing decision that leads to the corner. I think it’s a bye kick. The fourth official said he’d told the ref, the linesman said he told the ref but Nick [Walsh] gave the corner kick.
“Albeit we’ve got to defend the corner better so I’m not looking for that, but you need the refereeing decisions to go your way.
“On the second goal I think it’s a handball with Tom Rogic in the middle of the park and the referees right there.
“We don’t get that decision and then it leads to a ball getting transitioned to the right hand side, the boy puts a cross in Ajel sclaffs at it and it hits off Nicky Devlin and you’re two nil down.
“So I don’t think we deserved much more from the game if I’m honest but with the two decisions kind of going against you leading to the goals you feel me a bit hard done by and it gives you a mountain to climb.
“We done well where we got ourselves back in the game, slightly back in the game with the goal, it gives you an outside chance.
“We just couldn’t capitalise on that and get the next goal. I think we’ve got to give Celtic the credit.
“I think on the day, did they deserve the three points?
“I think they probably did.”
Complimentary and gushing about a team that are now viable championship contenders but all the focus was on two comments about the refs whilst ignoring the fact that an SPFL manager claimed we were back at our best.
I suspect the so called pundits will soon be analyzing whether or not Celtic should have kicked off after Livingston scored! Or maybe that kick off to restart the game should have been handed to Livvy? 🤔
Was this yet another howler of a decision from a very blatant anti-Celtic ref?