A HARSH RED HAS COST US

JOHN KENNEDY hit out a rookie ref Nick Walsh for the Callum Mcgregor red card that swung Celtic towards another damaging derby defeat.

The Parkhead boss and skipper Scott Brown both felt the whistler made a major error in his Old Firm game with the pivotal 26th minute ordering-off. Mcgregor received a second yellow card for a foul of Glen Kamara in the build-up to Rangers’ opening goal in their 4-1 win. However, it was the midfielder’s first booking for decking Ryan Kent which infuriated Celtic.

Kennedy felt that was a big mistake and a harsh call from a “young official who doesn’t have a lot of experience.”

He said: “The sending off is the big point in the game. It’s a turning point. Callum being sent off at the same time as Rangers score obviously swings the game in their favour.

“I think it’s a bad decision. Not the second one because he’s on a yellow and makes a tackle on the ground.

“I asked the referee for clarity at half-time on why he booked him for the first one. His words to me exactly were: It was a reckless challenge.

“It wasn’t reckless, I’ve seen it. There was no malice, no intent in terms of any power behind the tackle.

“It was a big game for a young official who doesn’t have a lot of experience. He makes a very harsh call which costs us.

“It’s a genuine attempt for the ball and Kent has managed to nip in before him.

“There was another incident on the far side when Odsonne Edouard is breaking through, he’s taken down by a slide tackle, we get a free-kick and that’s it.

“So there’s no consistency there and that’s what I’m most disappointing with. Red cards can happen, but at least make the right calls.

“We’re massively disappointed with the result, but I’m annoyed with the sending off.

“Callum is gutted. He’s been a huge part of our success and will be going forward. He was the most disappointed man at Ibrox.”