Furious Butcher blames referee
Three of a kind
The former England captain was unhappy at the handball given against Michael Neilson that led to Celtic’s second goal from Virgil van Dijk.
Neilson got away with a similar incident a fortnight ago against Aberdeen with Butcher believing that the same leniency should have been shown again.
“The same referee didn’t give a handball against the same player for the same incident at Aberdeeen,” the Hibs boss reasoned! “And then we have a handball by a St Mirren player at the game last week which is not given.
“The ref said he cautioned Michael because he stopped the ball going through to an opponent but if you look at the Aberdeen game with the same referee, same player, same incident he doesn’t give a free-kick or a penalty.
“Last week Willie Collum – when the St Mirren player handles the ball not once but twice – he gives nothing, yet today’s referee would say that should be a penalty.
“I don’t know what the rules are and how the refs interpret that. I don’t want to speak to Craig Thomson about this.
“If I really say what I think about the referee’s performance then I would be in trouble with Mr Lunny (Vincent Lunny, SFA’s compliance officer) so I’m not going to go there. It’s a waste of time calling John Fleming. A waste of time.”
After watching his side extend their unbeaten SPFL run Neil Lennon took a more dignified view of the match.
“I think the scoreline probably flattered us a bit but you have to take your hat off to the goalkeeper,” the Irishman said.
“He (Fraser Forster) made one unbelievable save. There are not many keepers who can make those kinds of saves and thankfully he is one of them.
“It looked a goal all the way and how he got his hand to it and pushed it away, I don’t know.
“It showed his concentration level, when he is not doing a lot, he can switch on and be the barrier he is at the minute.
“We got better as the second half wore on and obviously the second and third goals were magnificent in their own way.”