Three and easy for Hoops despite VAR frustrations
CHAMPIONS CRUISE PAST TEN MAN COUNTY AT A CANTER
BRENDAN Rodgers hailed his stand-in Celts for easing his VAR frustration.
The Hoops boss admitted he was left confused after the video ref stepped in to rule out two goals in Dingwall before his side found way through and eventually cruised to a 3-0 win,
Liam Scales saw a strike ruled out for a foul by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the build up while the striker had one scratched for an hairline offside call amid controversy over where the action was frozen.
VAR also stepped in to upgrade James Brown’s yellow card to a red after a rash lunge on Yang as David Turnbull struck on the stroke of halftime before subs Luis Palma and James Forrest put the shine on a dominant win.
Rodgers said: “I was pleased. We made a number of changes to bring new energy in the team. It’s difficult when they get the man sent off early because it means it’s a game of attack versus defence.
“But we had some really good chances before taking the lead. I thought the goal that was disallowed should have been a goal. It was two defenders challenging for the ball.
“I don’t know where the foul was and it takes an eternity to find out if it was a goal or not.
“The offside looks really close. I’d have to see it again. Our replay on the side I felt it took an eternity for the VAR decisions. So I don’t know about the offside one, it was very close. But the other one, it’s two guys who have jumped for the ball. I don’t know where the foul was so that was disappointing.”
Rodgers made six changes to his side from the midweek win against St Mirren with the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday on his mind.
Celts had to show patience and Rodgers said: “It was a game where we needed some energy from the guys at the beginning.
We scored some fantastic goals and their keeper made some brilliant saves. Credit to County, they lose a man so early. You can unravel or stick at it and keep going and they did that.
“The guys came in and worked very hard. It’s about contributing to the overall performance.
“Oh comes in and works really hard.
“He did really well. He’s simplifying his game. Sometimes you can come and try to force the game but he played it simply, set the game up well and worked very hard. The others who came in were steady and concentrated.”