Kris Boyd reacts to Willie Collum and Rangers penalty claim in Celtic defeat
Referee Willie Collum did “very well” and was right not to award Rangers a penalty in the second half of the defeat against Celtic, says Kris Boyd.
Ryan Jack hit the ball into Cameron Carter-Vickers’ arm in the penalty area, in one of the few notable involvements the Gers midfielder managed, as the home side chased an equaliser, but Collum was unmoved.
In a typically heated encounter, the Scottish referee let the result play out by restricting the number of cards he showed, despite plenty of fouls, and ex-Bears man Boyd had to hold his hands up in praise after the 2-1 loss all but ended the title defence.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the final whistle (3 April 02.25pm), when asked if it should have been a spot kick he said: “I don’t think so. It has hit Carter-Vickers’ hand but it’s not as if it’s out…
“His arm is by his side, and not every handball is a penalty kick.
“He doesn’t make any movement from his hand towards the ball.
“What I will say is I thought Willie Collum refereed the game very well today. He kept his cards in his pocket early doors.
“It hits his hand but it’s not a penalty for me… And that’s without VAR!”
Resignation
When even the fight has drained out of the former Ibrox forward you know the game is up.
What looked like the day the title race would swing back towards the reigning champions when Aaron Ramsey scored after three minutes ended up a demoralising home defeat.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side made a blistering start, mirroring the one they had been on the end of at Parkhead in February.
But while Celtic had consolidated their lead in the 3-0 win, the visitors hit back quickly here and halted the tide.
John Lundstram received the only home booking for a ridiculous foul on Giorgos Giakoumakis just before the half, and the Hoops went ahead from the resulting free kick through Carter-Vickers when the Englishman failed to clear.
The Light Blues huffed and puffed from then on without testing Joe Hart enough.
Jack’s penalty claim, the highlight of miserable day for him and outside one decent Fashion Sakala shot and a couple of chances Kemar Roofe couldn’t convert, was about as close as they came.
Collum physically wrestled Sakala out of a confrontation late on to prevent trouble for him, and Boyd’s assessment was ultimately fair on a day when the visitors defended well and were a threat on the break.
In other Rangers news, there were a pair of 2/10 calamities and the man of the match was not who fans would have wanted in this bad defeat’s player ratings.