FREE-FALLING TO A NEW LOW
Robertson will have to watch TV re-run of penalty award through cracks in his fingers
BRENDAN Rodgers chose the word ‘embarrassing’ to describe what he saw but the Celtic manager might well have used many others. Unfathomable, amateurish and incompetent would have been equally as appropriate.
Certainly, when referee Don Robertson reviews his role in Celtic being denied three points here in Dingwall he would be well advised to do so through the cracks in his fingers and stationed behind his sofa.
When Ross County substitute Alex Schalk threw himself to the turf in the dying embers of this torrid affair, the distance between the striker and Erik Sviatchenko was such that they were almost in different postcodes.
If the Dutchman’s attempt to win a spot-kick was lamentable, Robertson’s decision to point to the spot simply defied belief.
In a season where the standard of officiating in Scotland has left much to be desired, yesterday we reached the nadir. For Celtic, the fall-out went way beyond Liam Boyce converting from 12 yards to peg the score at two goals apiece.
Infuriated at being denied a 37th win in 40 domestic matches, Scott Brown’s lunge at Boyce moments later brought a deserved red card, although he looks set to face Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final next Sunday due to the likely appeal not being heard until the week after.
Despite that, Rodgers struggled to contain his fury afterwards and it was hard not to have sympathy with the Celtic manager.
His side had huffed and puffed at times here but had rallied to see off County’s spirited comeback. When Patrick Roberts re-established his side’s lead with a sublime goal, there was nothing to suggest the champions would be denied another deserved triumph.
As welcome as Robertson’s intervention was from County’s point of view, it was contrary to all natural justice. To his credit, not even Jim McIntyre disputed that his side had benefited from an extraordinary turn of events.
The shaping of Rodgers’ side was intriguing. Tom Rogic made his first start after injury ahead of a three-man defence with Scott Sinclair also deployed in a narrow role behind Moussa Dembele. Such naked attacking intent threatened to swamp County in the early exchanges. Lurking on the edge of the box, Callum McGregor had time to size up Stuart Armstrong’s deep corner but failed to connect properly.
The exchanges between Celtic’s front three were a joy to behold but failed to provide a breakthrough.
When Kieran Tierney took a more direct approach, his bouncing shot asked much of Scott Fox but the County keeper kept his nerve and concentration to gather.
There was no respite for McIntyre’s men at that point. The opening goal was inevitable.
Sinclair, Rogic and Forrest linked passes 30 yards from goal.
Seeing no obvious gap in the dark blue wall, the ball was eventually worked back to Tierney who was shaping to shoot before the ball arrived at his feet.
What a strike he produced. The ball arrowed along the turf through a forest of legs to beat Fox at his far post. The keeper remained motionless throughout.
The chance McIntyre must have been praying for arrived from the re-start. Jason Naismith beat Sviatchenko in the air to find Tim Chow. His volley had direction but lacked purchase. Craig Gordon leapt to gather comfortably.
Normal service was soon resumed. Michael Gardyne was the first man to fall foul of referee Robertson, the winger picking up a yellow card for taking out Rogic.
For the home side to reach the break just one goal behind was something of an achievement.
Yet, whatever McIntyre said at half-time had an extraordinary effect on his players. Displaying an aggression and a belief rarely witnessed in the first half, they took the game to the Bhoys.
Six minutes after the break they were level. Ryan Dow’s cross from the left was unchallenged. Gardyne’s movement was in stark contrast to the statuesque Sviatchenko.
He caught the ball flush with his head and generated sufficient power to send it crashing in after clipping the underside of the bar.
Remarkably, County then came close to turning the game on its head. First, Andrew Davies connected with Jim O’Brien’s corner forcing Gordon to gather. Then Gardyne’s cross found Boyce but the Northern Irishman failed to connect with the target gaping.
Rodgers reacted by introducing Leigh Griffiths, Cristian Gamboa and Patrick Roberts for Dembele, Rogic and Forrest and re-shaping as a 4-3-3.
County’s resilience was commendable. Celtic bobbed and weaved on the edge of the box without really looking like making the breakthrough. As the clock ran down, County seemed to be edging towards a priceless point but Celtic had other ideas.
Roberts tip-toed into the box and simply bamboozled Chow with his close control. The finish arrowed through Marcus Fraser and Fox, with the keeper surely at fault. It could well have broken County’s hearts. But then all hell broke loose. Schalk was miles away from Sviatchenko when the ball arrived in the box with the Dane making no attempt to play the ball or the man. But to the astonishment of all, Robertson pointed to the spot. Boyce converted the penalty but we weren’t done yet.
Clearly infuriated at what had transpired, Brown’s tackle on Boyce was late and wild and deserving of the long walk.
It will take some time for the dust to settle.