CAL CONNED REF COLLUM
From Back Page 18 months until the winger extended their unbeaten run to 66 games with his penalty two minutes from time.
The Englishman’s late goal was the perfect response after he was mercilessly taunted by the Well fans after being accused of diving to win the spot-kick that killed their hopes in Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final.
Rose was penalised last night for a foul on McGregor but claimed the champions should never have been awarded it by ref Collum.
Following another stormy encounter between the sides – set to clash for a third time in a row on Saturday – the Australian said: “It wasn’t a penalty. I’ve seen it back. I’ve planted my leg and he’s ran into me and flopped over.
“Clearly he has played for it. He’s gone down, it’s really soft, and it’s happened to us twice in a week now.
“When the referee blew his whistle I was shocked. He’s got a tough job but it wasn’t a penalty.
“With two minutes to go it’s a massive decision. People will have different views but there was no intent to bring him down.
“I planted my leg and he’s gone down. He runs into me and he could have stayed on his feet but didn’t and it’s cost us.
“These are the sort of decisions I doubt we’d get at the other end. We were tremendous.
“Trevor Carson gave one of the best goalkeeping displays I’ve ever seen live so to only get a point is frustrating.”
Carson was in inspired form with an outstanding first-half save from Kieran Tierney and another just moments before the penalty award.
And Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers – who lost Patrick Roberts early on with a hamstring injury – said: “Motherwell have been angry with a lot since the weekend. They have been angry about everything.
“Their keeper makes a great save, it rebounds out and their player attempts to get the ball.
“Callum steps in front, gets his body there and he knocks him over. If you look at the ref, he’s in a perfect position to see it.
“I thought it was a penalty but when you are the opposition, you probably think it’s not. If there is a penalty to be taken in that situation, then Scott will take it.
“I have seen him do it in front of 90,000 people at Wembley for Swansea in a play-off final. That is a £100million game and he never budged – he was calm and composed.
“Whether it’s in front of 9000 or 90,000, I’d always back him to score. He was straight on to it and finished it every well.
“It was a really good game. Niggly at times but nothing more. You have to give massive credit to the Well keeper. I knew Trevor as a young guy and he was outstanding.
“We should have been a couple of goals up but didn’t take our chances and then we went behind.
“But the response was brilliant. We have scored in every game in this run.
“Questions were asked but they continually answer them and show their mentality.”
Well boss Stephen Robinson refused to be drawn on the penalty and said: “I just want to talk about the game.
“Let’s not talk about the referee. I can’t control them. It was a terrific game of football. I want to talk about how good we were, how much we bridged the gap and got about Celtic again.”