The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Sub Sinclair spot on as Celtic extend unbeaten domestic run to 66 games
PREMIERSHIP: Sinclair penalty seals share of spoils to leave Well frustrated
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson refused to speak about another controversial Celtic penalty after the Hoops fought back to grab a late 1-1 draw at Fir Park last night.
The Ladbrokes Premiership leaders had beaten their hosts 2-0 in the Betred Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday thanks to a contentious spot kick awarded when Scott Sinclair went down easily under a challenge from Cedric Kipre, who was then sent off.
Moussa Dembele slammed in the penalty to make it 2-0 and leave the Well manager raging.
Last night, however, it looked like the Steelmen would get a measure of revenge when, with 12 minutes remaining, Hoops right-back Mikael Lustig knocked the ball into his own net as he tried to clear a Craig Tanner free-kick.
With two minutes remaining, though, referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot after Callum Mcgregor went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Andy Rose.
Substitute Sinclair, jeered when he came on in the second-half, scored to extend Celtic’s unbeaten domestic run to 66 games and leave the home supporters fuming.
However, this time, pointedly, Robinson said: “I am not going to talk about the decision.
“I am going to talk about the game, two good teams, both trying to win the game. Celtic had a lot of chances so did we.
“Let’s not talk about the refs. I can’t control them, I can’t change it. I am not going to make any comment on it at all.”
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was not surprised at the anger about the penalty.
He said: “They have been angry with a lot since Sunday, they seem to be angry with everything.
“Again, their keeper made a great save, we should have finished it, the ball rebounds out, the player makes an attempt to get the ball, Callum steps in front, gets his body there and he knocks him over.
“And if you look at the referee’s decision, he is in the perfect position to give it so yes, I thought it was a penalty. Of course when you are the opposition, you probably think it’s not.”
Referee Willie Collum had worked hard to keep control of a feisty game in which chances were at a minimum.
In the 20th minute, after a terrific crossfield pass from Tom Rogic had released Leigh Griffiths, Well goalkeeper Trevor Carson pulled off a fine save from Mcgregor’s drive – with the Hoops midfielder narrowly missing the target with the rebound.
Carson’s save in the minute of added time was remarkable. Rogic split the Well defence open to find left-back Kieran Tierney, who found himself in the clear – but his drive from point-blank range was somehow blocked by the Fir Park keeper.
Celtic stepped it up at the start of the second half and Carson pulled off another fine save, this time from Mcgregor’s low drive from outside the box. Motherwell striker Louis Moult’s overhead kick from 12 yards then cleared the bar.
Sinclair was given stick by the home fans when he replaced Stuart Armstrong in the 72nd minute ahead of a frantic finale which saw Lustig, trying to defend a Tanner free-kick, knock the ball past the helpless Gordon.
The champions rallied and Rogic smashed a drive which rebounded off the post and back into the arms of Carson.
However, Mcgregor went to ground following a challenge from Rose and Collum pointed to the spot, allowing Sinclair to slam in the leveller.
Attendance: 9,164
Motherwell: Carson, Kipre, Hartley, Dunne, Tait, Campbell, Mchugh (Bowman 75), Frear (Tanner 66), Cadden, Moult, Petravicius (Rose 46). Subs not used: Plummer, Grimshaw, Bigirimana, Griffiths.
Celtic: Gordon, Lustig (Edouard 81), Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney, Armstrong (Sinclair 73), Brown, Roberts (Rogic 11), Mcgregor, Forrest, Griffiths. Subs not used: Ntcham,de Vries, Sviatchenko, Ajer.
Referee: William Collum.