Rice: Referee gave Celtic a Christmas gift
Hamilton Accies boss Brian Rice believed his side were hard done by in their loss to Celtic.
The Lanarkshire side were holding the Hoops 0-0 when they had a penalty awarded against them early in the second half.
Referee Don Robertson pointed to the spot after French striker Odsonne Edouard crashed to the ground under a challenge from Aaron Martin.
The player howled his complaint and on the sidelines Rice could be heard trying to find out what the award had been given for.
“It is the season for presents and Celtic got one with the penalty,” he said as he analysed a 3-0 defeat that leaves his team in second bottom of the table.
“That is my opinion. I think it was very soft but the ref gave it.
“It was 0-0 at the break and I have been there many times in my career.
“You come back out, you switch off and suddenly the game is gone.
“We did not switch off, we just got a soft penalty against us and it gave Celtic the lead.
“They then keep the ball better and get more goals and it is all over.”
Accies, to be fair, kept battling away even when they trailed 3-0 to a visitor who looked in the mood to go on and make it five or six.
That was noted by their manager who paid tribute to the spirit of his players.
“I cannot fault my team,” said Rice. “They hung in and gave me absolutely everything.
“The boys who were available gave me all they could out there.
“It was always going to be really tough for us against difficult opposition.
“It was difficult with the weather but it is Scotland in December, so we expect it but in the first half we were outstanding and well organised.”
While admitting his team will need to start picking up more points, the Accies boss was upbeat about their chances of doing just that.
Starting with the trip to play St Johnstone at Mcdiarmid Park on Wednesday night.
“I am expecting players back in midweek, I’m expecting a stronger squad and I am expecting three points,” said Rice.