Ronny Deila’s difficult relationship with the Celtic support took a turn for the worse after last night’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton Accies.
Since the new year belief in the Norwegian has plunged with those supporters believing in his ideas and vision struggling to justify them against recent results.
Alarm levels rose during a winless Europa League campaign but a place at the top of the table and a potential treble kept most of the critics in check.
There is however one subject that Celtic supporters are united on. It doesn’t matter if it’s Willie Collum, Craig Thomson or Steven McLean, whoever the referee is there is little trust that the laws of the game will be applied evenly.
When Thomson red carded Dedryck Boyata last night there was anger but no surprise, the same referee has been involved in similar incidents already this season in Celtic matches.
Closer inspection of the incident revealed two elements: that Boyata had got a touch on the ball and that Calton Morris was offside when the ball was played forward.
Without a moments hesitation Thomson had reached for his red card. No thought was given to speaking to his linesman who was running alongside the incident, in full flight the referee had his card out and Boyata was off.
At best the decision to send off the Celtic was debatable, to most hoops supporters it was wrong and in line with similar incidents involving Thomson this season.
Deila could have taken the Arsene Wenger viewpoint of not having seen the incident, instead, in his after match interviews he backed Thomson’s decision.
Asked about the red card the Celtic boss said: “I think it was an okay decision. Rule number one, as a defender, is stay on your feet and run with people and it is something we have to learn from.
“I have seen it again one more time and I don’t think he touched the ball and we have to learn from these situations.
“When you have one versus one, you have to run with people. We have to run with them instead of taking chances.”
Deila’s Celtic reign has been littered by costly honest mistakes from referees, each supporter has their own special memories.
Under Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan or Neil Lennon Thomson would have been left in no doubt about the views from the Celtic bench on the decision.
A Celtic manager should be partisan, backing his players to the hilt, and letting anyone and everyone know his feelings when his side have been wronged.
In a future career Deila can be as diplomatic and even handed as he likes, plenty of former Celtic employees seem very happy in that role.
With the Premiership title in the balance any mistake can prove costly, every angle and advantage has to be fought for.
More and more Celtic supporters are finding it hard to tune in with Deila’s tactics, formations and selections. Slating the decision of Thomson last night would have been in line with the thinking of most supporters, backing the referee is simply driving a further wedge through one of the most important relationships at the club.