The pain of Celtic’s late win over Hearts at Tynecastle cut deep for Guardian golf reporter Ewan Murray.
Overlooking the tactics of his own side that brought three yellow and one red card in the first half Murray decided to focus his anger on what he believed should have been a red card for Dedryck Boyata.
The Celtic defender was caught in possession gifting the ball to Steven Naismith. The Hearts striker rarely needs an excuse to fall to the ground but after screwing his shot wide of goal he hit the deck.
Soon afterwards Naismith was booked for a foul on Scott Brown with the Scotland striker failing to appear for the second half due to a knee injury.
There were no real complaints about the big decisions of the night, Jamie Brandon getting a red card for a brutal attack on Jeremy Toljan and the penalty awarded against Kris Ajer.
For most of the second half it looked like Hearts were going to take a point but in stoppage time Odsonne Edouard popped in a late winner that gave Neil Lennon a winning start as caretaker manager of Celtic.
The Old Firm and marginal calls, chapter 24,578: if VAR was in place at Tynecastle last night, every chance Boyata would have been sent off for pulling back Naismith.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) February 28, 2019
If it’s marginal calls you want to talk about I can start sending you them for every Celtic game.
— Scottsman78 ???? (@Scottsman1978) February 28, 2019
Was that before or after Haring got his second yellow?
— Harry Brady (@HarryBradyCU) February 28, 2019
If VAR was indeed around Celtic would have already won the league and these games would be mere friendlies ????????????
— Ronan (@RJEARL1) February 28, 2019
if Scotland had competent refs haring Naismith and izkepu would all been off for consistent fouling!
— RicardoMonteglin (@rickysproule74) February 28, 2019
Dry yer eyes.
— Horris™ (@HorrisMcLoven) February 28, 2019
Nonsense. Has to be clear and obvious mistake. Naismith had already hit his shot (off target) before there is contact. Whether that contact is a foul is therefore irrelevant.
— pj mullen (@pjmullen81) February 28, 2019
What about Haring? Should he have walked too?
— Brian Shields (@brido1981) February 28, 2019
If VAR was in place from the start of the season. Celtic would probably have had the league won by now.
— Jim Sweeney (@sweenjim) February 28, 2019
And Haring would have been sent off for two bookable offences. Swings and roundabouts.
— JP Murphy (@jp_murphy) February 28, 2019
Aye only if you were in charge of it ????
— RaffaeloBonaccorsi (@Raffaelopietro) February 28, 2019
Desperation is shown in so many forms but mainly in your tweets! Fud
— robert crilly (@CrillyBobc) February 28, 2019
Oh great, here we go again with Lawrence Donegans tea boy and his one eyed view of the game. Dry your eyes
— Rat Bhoy (@Ratbhoy) February 28, 2019
Dry yer eyes ya ????
— John (@johnboy_62) February 28, 2019