Kris Boyd says Bobby Madden was wrong to allow controversial 1st Celtic goal v Rangers
Kris Boyd insists Bobby Madden should not have allowed the first Celtic goal against Rangers on Wednesday night because there was a head injury.
Reo Hatate put the Hoops 1-0 up after only five minutes after Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey collided with each other in the penalty area while trying to clear a corner, with both lying on the turf as the Celtic attacker scored from outside the box.
It set the tone for an awful first half display from the reigning champions who were saved by Allan McGregor multiple times before Hatate scored a wonderful second, then crossed for Liel Abada to make it three before half time.
Speaking at half time on the Sky Sports match broadcast, former Gers striker Boyd said: “Celtic have been by far the best team, there’s no complaints there, but that should have been stopped.
“If you see there, right at the end as well, Bobby Madden actually goes to put his whistle to his mouth then stops.
“For me, it’s a head knock in the box and it had to be stopped.
“But Rangers have been absolutely abysmal this first half. Celtic deserve [it]. It’s 3-0, it could be five or six.”
Onslaught
The first 45 minutes were an utter disaster for the Light Blues as they were outplayed from the first whistle to the last.
They only had two attacks that looked like creating an opening, while they were subjected to wave after wave of bombardment from the home side.
The opening goal arguably should have seen the referee blow his whistle as it looked like one of the two Rangers players could have taken a blow to the head.
While conceding so early surely did not help the Gers cause, as the already loud crowd only got louder, and the momentum that Celtic brought into the game was quickly made clear.
But had that goal not stood, it is hard to believe that a replacement would not have arrived soon after, such was the differing level of performance between the two sides.
In other Rangers news, the Sky Sports pundits react during the game to controversy surrounding the goal.