He allows himself to be on the end of a very, very sore one- BBC pundit blames Guchi!

Richard Forster has explained to viewers of Sportscene how Yosuke Guchi allowed himself to get ‘a very, very sore one’ from his Partick Thistle team-mate Mouhamed Niang. 

Celtic’s 2-1 Scottish Cup win over Alloa was overshadowed by injuries to Ange Postecoglou’s squad with Guchi starting his first match in Scottish football. 

Early in the second half while playing the ball he was hit side on by Niang who followed through into the ankle of the Celtic player. After treatment and an attempt to play on Guchi was substituted. 

Fans watching on Premier Sports were horrified by the incident, those watching later on BBC Scotland were lost for words as a professional player attempted to justify the injury. 

Asked if he thought it was a sending off Forster said: 

I don’t think it is, it’s a strong tackle and he wins the ball. The main thing is, and what I got taught as a youngster, is that if you go in for a 50-50 you’ve got to go in at the same speed and intensity as the other player. 

Ideguchi actually tries to pull out of it so he’s slowing himself down and Mouhamed Niang is coming right through the ball. It’s a strong, strong tackle but it would have been very harsh. 

If the two players had gone in together at the same (speed) you would have seen an old fashioned 50-50 tackle and nobody would have got hurt. But by slowing himself down he allows himself to be on the end of a very, very sore one. 

Celtic now face going to Tynecastle on Wednesday without Guchi, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic- their first choice midfield from yesterday. 

That could mean a very early debut for Matt O’Riley, provided international clearance has come through on his move from MK Dons.