Once again Willie Collum managed to dominate the after match exchanges as Celtic edged out Aberdeen 3-2 to stay a point clear at the top of the SPFL Premiership.
Goals from Jota and Matt O’Riley in the first 20 minutes looked to put Celtic into a comfortable position but within 17 minutes of the second half starting there were goals and complaints at each end.
Jota did have the ball in the net again before the break but an unconvincing offside flag from the assistant meant that the half-time lead was just 2-0.
Ten minutes into the second half Collum decided to award Aberdeen a free-kick out wide after play had developed and ended with Matty Kennedy shooting wide of the goal.
It was a well taken free kick with the ball played back to Cristian Ramirez but Carl Starfelt’s attempt to get out was clearly blocked by Scott Brown who had no intention of going for the ball.
With that lifeline Aberdeen found an extra gear, five minutes later they were on level terms when Lewis Ferguson netted from a corner.
Fortunately Celtic restored their lead within 60 seconds, Jota ghosting through the Aberdeen defence to shoot past Gary Woods as the home players screamed for an offside call against Liel Abada.
That criticism seemed to spook Collum, for the remaining half hour Aberdeen were awarded a procession of free kicks as they pushed for an equaliser.
Four minutes of stoppage time were played without any further incident as Celtic held on to their one point lead at the top of the Premiership table.
Willie Collum is a master at breaking up the play in a game of football. He is the football equivalent of poorly wean on date night.
— James Finnell (@HoudiniBhoy) February 9, 2022
Massive 3 pts.
Great start then fell out of it a bit.
Willie Collum doing Willie Collum things didn’t help but we hung in there.
A great run of results.
— Stevie Jackson (@bobby__peru) February 9, 2022
Thank god for that, Willie Collum trying to make the game all about him again ?
— William Dowling (@wdart89) February 9, 2022
I can say it now we’ve won @CelticFC but that was shocking from Willie Collum, blew the whistle any time a Celtic player got anywhere near a dons jersey
— Steven Daley (@DaleySteven) February 9, 2022
Aberdeen X Willie Collum 2 Celtic 3
— Brendan Hurrell (@pipmartino) February 9, 2022
Willie Collum is just a terrible referee, no matter what team you support.
— McMachiavelli (@MLTim88) February 9, 2022
Scottish refs are always irking me, no surprise there especially Willie Collum he’s up there with the Bobby Maddens and John Beatons of the world?
— CaitlinGibsonnx??? (@caitlingibsonnx) February 9, 2022
Big win for us?. Willie collum got to be the worse ref
— Jack Stuart (@JackStu16660020) February 9, 2022
Willie Collum makes for an ugly match of football
— TRËŸRØŽŽŽ (@Treyrozzz) February 9, 2022
Willie Collum, has made it a contest
— @RabCorbett (@RabCorbett2) February 9, 2022
Tom Boyd ?? “nah that’s just Willie Collum with his inconsistent refereeing”
— Whyte22 (@FullofCarrie_on) February 9, 2022
I really can’t believe how bad Willie Collum is
— Paul B ? (@p_bov1) February 9, 2022
3rd rate refs in the spl as 3rd sfa plus masons and blue rinse most of them. Thats why celtic really need to kill off teams we just can’t trust these scottish refs well done celtic 3 points that’s most important going on a great run plus more new players getting fitter and players coming back from injuries .
According to one of his pupils he is an even worse teacher.
Imagine being I competent at both your jobs!
Was it the president of Besiktaslast year said that Collum would be well advised not to set foot in Turkey ever again.?I’m trying to raise Collums flight money to Turkey asap.
Jota goal wasn’t offside……..Offside as cross comes in before the ball went out far side for throw-in leading to soft foul leading to 1st sheep goal………List of errors throughout just too great to count. Ralston pushed in the back and CV makes legit challenge…freekick to sheep and came close……Maeda pacey run to catch ball behind sheep defence, Jonny Hayes shove in back in box….Bye kick sheep…..and even Red TV female pundit saw mc crorie out wide playing Abada onside despite DOB Mc Leans total ignorance, ….Sheep have little to Baa about.
The dons Fred kick for the so called Callum McGregor hand ball, oic he is inside the box is that a penalty? No it is not so why is any ball to hand outside the box a free kick even when not deliberate. All round our refs are cheats. Will var help? No still cheats adjudicating.
Willie collomnis just a bad ref foul against celtic after allowing advantage aberdeen player hit it wide that was the advantage just won’t give celtic a fifty fifty where he get four minutes celtic don’t waste time so losers get extra time when they are the guilty party madden and Beaton are just cheats