Craig Thomson’s nightmare season continued at Pittodrie last night as his decisions decided the outcome of Celtic’s visit to Aberdeen.
Two key moments dominated the match with both of them going against Celtic. In the 12th minute of the match Virgil van Dijk brought down Peter Pawlet, did the Dutchman deny the midfielder an obvious goal scoring opportunity? Thomson thought so and a red card was shown.
Despite being down to ten men Celtic dominated the second half following the half time introduction of James Forrest.
Looking for the breakthrough goal Adam Matthews launched a throw-in deep into the Aberdeen penalty box.
When Andy Consodine nervously heads the ball across goal Mark Reynolds sticks out his arm to ensure that the loose ball doesn’t fall to Leigh Griffiths- penalty? Not according to Thomson who either made an honest mistake or was too badly positioned to see the incident.
Either way it explains why Scotland’s leading referee will once again be watching the World Cup from his home this summer.
Discussing those incidents Neil Lennon said: “I thought we were worthy of the win. I thought the referee ruined the game. It’s not a sending-off. Pawlett was going across the goal rather than towards the goal. I’m pretty sure Ambrose would have got across.
“And there was a clear handball in the second half. He saw it and said it wasn’t deliberate.” Since their January jolly to La Manga the standard of refereeing has fallen even further with managers enraged on a weekly basis.
With Willie Collum, Bobby Madden and Brian Colvin challenging Thomson for the title of Scotland’s best referee it’s likely to be a long wait before a Scottish referee appears at the World Cup or is given a knock-out match in the Champions League to apply their own interpretation of the laws of the game.
The SFA recently employed Dougie McDonald in a training post for emerging referees.
The establishment were never gonna allow the Hoops to go unbeaten throughout the season. In the grand scheme of things it means jack shit HH.
Disagree on this occasion, Watch the replay above and it’s a clear shot on goal, I would have been screaming for a red card if it was at the other end. The penalty was a 50/50 for me, But hey that is only my opinion.
Definite red card, unfortunately.
Definite penalty for Celtic which was waved away.
Let’s be generous and say Thomson didn’t see the incident.
In competent twat.
Virgil FAB sold down the river by Ambrose maybe he should have stuck to making custard,
it was a stick on red card every day of the week, get over yourselves beaten twice home and away
in a couple of weeks proves it was no fluke and that just maybe we might have a competition next season as your team keeps getting worse and the Dons keep improving COYR’s
Sheepshagger,
Competition ??
Don”t make me laugh.
Once we’ve won the league next month,
after the split we’ll take 5 of.youse.
No more lucky days for you.
Caley for theCup
Can’t blame refs. Grow up. Regardless of Aberdeens form we should be humping them. They wanted it more. Too many players lack quality at the club. Instead of buying a quality striker we buy 3 average ones. I expect a clear out at the end of the season.
The red card, stupid lunge from Virgil put the referee in a situation. The strikers next touch would likely have been a shot at goal from around 12 yards so the ref is justified.
The non penalty, the defenders arm is down by his side, if it does hit his arm it’s in the bicep area, no penalty for me.
That said I don’t think the referee had a particularly good game, but he was justified in those decisions.
I’m more concerned that Samaras got on before Balde/Pukki/Borrighter.
I’m of the same opinion as Jimmy.
VvD challenge was a red card all day long. The problem was caused by a bad pass from Ambrose in the first place.
The penalty shout was soft – it doesn’t look deliberate to me.
Anyway, all this talk of the clean sheet record having gone is nonsense. It hasn’t gone – it will still be there 40 years from now.
We wanted competition and now we’ve got it. Fair play to Aberdeen. Keep up the good form – we welcome the chase next season.
HH
Have to agree with Jimmy, but what hasn’t been mentioned this morning is the blatant foul on stokes a yard from goal. Brown fires a shot across the face of the goal, the Aberdeen defender and Stokes challenge for the ball as Stokes tries to go for the ball he is blatantly fouled by the defender, stonewall penalty and sending off.
Im a celtic fan and have to say it was a sending off and the hand ball was a penalty. Celtic played really well with 10 men though and can be proud of themselves – they had 11 man Aberdeen rattled!!
Shut up and take it on the chin Neil. That was a stonewall penalty and a stonewall sending off. Even Virgil knew it.
I thought records were a sevco trick anyway? Big Fraser’s worn the same underpants for the last fifteen games. Who cares?
Apart from 10 in a row, winning trophies is all that matters.
‘With Willie Collum, Bobby Madden and Brian Colvin challenging Thomson for the title of Scotland’s best referee it’s likely to be a long wait before a Scottish referee appears at the World Cup or is given a knock-out match in the Champions League to apply their own interpretation of the laws of the game’
Willie Collum was in charge of the Zenith Dortmund knock out champions league game last night.
And he did really well I thought.
Seriously? He gave zenit a penalty for nothing!
I have no problem with the sending off – was a stonewall penalty though – arms were well away from the body etc.
Lennon is right though – Celtic were excellent with ten men – Biton looked to influence the game a lot which is what I expected of him.
Unbeaten record and clean sheets should now be celebrated as they were fine achievements.
Now we can get on with seeing what the rest of the seasons singings and kids are like and prepare for next season – or more to the point August.
Celtic were outstanding again, and Aberdeen played well. With the best will, it’s game where I thought, opinions are suppose clash. And, it’s a game where supporters frequently doubt the integrity of the opposing players. So, without pointing a finger, more strength to Neil and the Bhoys with the best of all my biases!
Joe,
You are spot on, re the 2 decisions that
decided the match.
The position of Efe,in line,and cutting across,would have made it difficult for
the attacker to.get a shot away.Also he
took a heavy touch.
I am sure our club will appeal the red.
As for the penalty,diverts the ball away
from Griffiths.STONEWALLER !!
2 years ago,we got.a penalty against us in
the cup semi against hearts,when Ledley
had his back turned.
So,learned gentlemen on here,who contest the penalty claim last night,which
one was more of a penalty ?
I would like to add,congratulations to the
team,for going so long,without losing a
league game.
I am sure,we will all be celebrating, at the
end of next month,when ‘ 3 ‘ is captured.
With ‘ 7 ‘ to go,for our ‘ ULTIMATE GOAL ‘
Keep The Faith
COYBIG
Peter.
There is no link, Each claim has to be taken on it’s own merit and I am not certain it was a pen, As for your assertion on the sending off and your claim that lennon will appeal, Nonsense, Camera behind the goal shows It was a clear goal scoring opportunity, sending off every day of the week.
Jimmy,
re sending off.That’s your opinion.It’s a
question of judgement.Not nonsense !!
IMO,Efe was over on the cover,and.the
boy took a heavy touch,and was it an angle.
SO FOR ME,NO RED CARD,AND WELL WORTH AN APPEAL !!
Hail Hail
Though it pains me to say it ,Mr Thomson called both contentious decisions correctly.Overall his efforts were passable but we need a higher standard for the whole game. Celtic played well enough but again were profligate in front of goal.As a side issue I’ve just looked. At the appearance stats in this weeks view, either players are injury prone mentally or physically, or just not good enough to challenge for first team selection, either way a good clear out of staff is required.HH.
Whether it was a penalty or not,(I think it was) and whether Van Dyke should have been red carded or not, that is now irrelevant! 10 man Celtic were by far the better team and deserved not only a draw but victory! in Neil Lennon,s first league defeat to Aberdeen since he became boss! With a full team Celtic would have won in a canter ‘last night!’ of that I have No doubt!
Not a red , not a pen , not a yellow for ambrose or griffiths
We were un-lucky not to get a draw judging by our second half performance but the unbeaten records gone now and we should look to play fringe players and youth to help develop a stronger squad for next seasons challenges. On a side note one of the complaints we have heard this season is that its been to easy and boring to watch so i personaly would welcome a challenge from a stronger Aberdeen we cant complain about the lack of challenge then moan when we get beat.HH
Anyone who knows Thomson ,knows he always favours the other team and even more so when it was the disgraced Club defunct Oldco .As soon as the tackle happened he sprinted red card in hand .Any decent referee would have at least checked with the other officials,when making such a game changing decision. Not Mr honest mistake,if you remember he always sprints to give a red card against Celtic .Anyone who says that it was not a penalty clearly is blind or biased.He again waived away legitimate protests without any hesitation WHY did he not check with the linesman again in such a game changing situation .He does this every time against Celtic and last night was a repeat performance by Thomson,a 12th man for the opposition every game he referees a Celtic game . Watch him closely the next time .He really shows his hatred by the petty decisions that always go against Celtic.He is always very quick in the game to first give fouls and yellow cards to Celtic.Watch him next time it is a pattern with him
Paranoia at ParkRed,
The establishment have really got it in for you guy’s check out the stats
for yourselves and I bet you still think your right!!!
http://espnfc.com/stats/fairplay/_/league/sco.1/scottish-premiership?cc=5739
Joe,
This sheepshagger infiltrator is a pain in
the arse.
Definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Give him the anti-Zombie software treatment.
Cheers
We can’t get our players to close down or tackle like other teams, we don’t get away with it like the rest, start watching and you’ll see…,