Kipre red card cost us

Seething Stephen Robinson rounded on Craig Thomson after the ref handed Motherwell a fifth red card of the season.

Kipre was sent off for the second time against the Hoops this campaign after Thomson controversially ruled he stamped on Celtic skipper Scott Brown in their first-half flare up.

The FIFA whistler was also in charge when he gave Kipre his marching orders in the Betfred Cup Final at Hampden in November, three months after he red-carded three Well players in a 4-1 defeat at St Johnstone.

Robinson said:“Five red cards from the same referee – and he’s not sent off another Premiership player this season.

“Everybody in the ground saw it wasn’t a red.

“Worst-case scenario both boys could’ve been booked and everybody might have thought even that was harsh.

“Two people brushed together. There was petulance from both of them. Brown gave him a little shove, Cedric brushed his calf against him. I’ve seen it and I’m 100 per cent certain it wasn’t a red.

“I didn’t need to make my feelings clear to Brown at half-time. It wasn’t him who made the decision that spoiled a very good match.”

Robinson was disappointed for the fans, particularly as they were looking to repay them for their dismal display in Hamilton in their last league game.

“It’s annoying because people pay money to watch the match and we were taking the game to them. Most people sit off Celtic but up until the red card we didn’t.

“It certainly wasn’t a stamp, as was indicated. Cedric’s a big boy, about 20 feet wide and 200 feet tall. He’s a gentle giant, with no malice in him. I’ve had to put my arm around him because he’s distraught.

“However, I’m absolutely proud of my players after that performance. Our games always seem to get overshadowed by decisions.”