Rodgers: Even Hill admitted it was a pen

BRENDAN RODGERS revealed last night that Gers defender Clint Hill personally voiced his relief that he got away with his late foul on Leigh Griffiths.

Celtic were irked at not getting the chance to take all three points with a last-gasp spot-kick, and Rodgers believes that Hill was in agreement that his challenge on the Celtic forward merited a penalty.

“It’s always disappointing when you lose a goal late on like that, especially in the manner we did,” said the Celtic manager.

“We should have had a penalty right at the death. It was a clear-cut penalty.

“It’s very frustrating – even more so when Clint Hill tells me he got away with it. Clint’s a good guy, a real honest fella, and he knows he got away with it.

“I think everyone saw it apart from the referee.”

There have been few afternoons of frustration this season for a Celtic side who are easing their way to a sixth successive title and Rodgers was quick to defend his players.

“I’m proud of the team today,” said Rodgers. “It was a tough game. I didn’t think we were so good in the first half.

“There was lots of effort and commitment but we lacked position in our possession.

“We made a change at half-time to give us a bit of superiority in the central area and we took control of the game.

“I felt it was only a matter of time before we got the second goal. But, of course, when it’s at 1-0 there’s always a chance a moment can happen.”

Rangers will be expected to draw positives from the result, but Rodgers hopes that it will also have a positive impact on his own side ahead of next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

“If we win the game today it is four games and another victory against Rangers,” he said.

“I didn’t think it would, but maybe getting the result can help us.

“We want to win, you’re disappointed when you don’t. But it just makes sure that we’re ready for that game. You have just got to take it and move on.

“When we play them again in the semi-final it will be another tight game, a close game, but hopefully we will get to the final.”