After denying Vakoun Bayo two goals earlier this season from Celtic’s 3-1 win over Hearts the SPFL have credited Aaron Hickey with the winning goal in yesterday’s Edinburgh derby.
While there was some debate about the scorer of Celtic’s opening goal, probably a joint effort between Bayo and Christophe Berra, at the time of the third goal there was no-one disputing that the goal was scored by the hoops striker.
In a desperate post-match media conference Craig Levein claimed that Craig Halkett had applied the finishing touch, seeking some consolation in losing out to two own goals.
Bookmakers paid out on Bayo for that goal but the following day the SPFL website credited Berra and Halkett with two of Celtic’s goals.
Yesterday at Easter Road there was absolutely no disputing that the final touch, the most significant one, in the winning goal came off Josh Vela of Hibs. Hickey’s shot from 18 yards out was useful but it was the touch from the on-rushing Vela that sent the ball spinning high over Chris Maxwell in the Hibs goal.
At 17-years-old Hickey deserves credit but if the SPFL want to deny Bayo two goals from a month ago then the same process would give the decisive goal at Easter Road to the unfortunate Vela.