Morton boss Dougie Imrie insists Celtic’s controversial penalty “changed everything” in their 5-0 Scottish Cup fourth round defeat to Celtic.
The Cappielow club started brightly at the home of the Scottish Premiership champions. But they found themselves 1-0 down on 18 minutes after VAR alerted ref Kevin Clancy to a possible handball by former Hoops defender Efe Ambrose. There seemed little the Nigerian could do as the ball deflected on to his hand from close range, but Clancy pointed to the spot and Aaron Mooy converted from 12 yards to send Ange Postecoglou’s team on their way.
A Kyogo double either side of a David Turnbull strike before the break put the game out of Morton’s reach, and Mooy rounded off the scoring with his second and Celtic’s fifth after the interval. But Imrie was left wondering what might have been and questioned how the officials at Clydesdale House and on the park could award a penalty after seeing the incident again.
“I thought we did well in the first 15 minutes but then obviously VAR changes everything,” he said. “No-one really sees anything, but it goes back to VAR and we get a penalty given against us. After that, we lose another goal in quick succession and we find ourselves being 2-0 from being in a good position, doing really well and having a couple of opportunities ourselves. Again, as the game goes on, in the last 20 minutes of the first half we concede another two goals which kills our hopes.
“I’m glad that I don’t have to deal with that (VAR) week in, week out because it does take an eternity. But I don’t know how Efe’s meant to get his hand out the road; it takes a deflection and it’s so close to him. I just don’t know how they can give a penalty when there’s a deflection off someone else on to Efe’s hand/. It’s disappointing, but that’s just the rules and we need to deal with it. But it made it an uphill task for ourselves.”
Despite a heavy scoreline, Imrie was pleased with what he got from his players. ‘Ton’s focus now shifts back to the Championship promotion race and their bid to reach the top flight next season. “We had a terrific start,” he told BBC Scotland. “We had a couple of half chances and on another day, we could put one of them in the net and it’s a totally different game.
“But I’m really proud of my boys after what they've given so far this season. This game won't determine our season, that starts again next week at home to Arbroath. It’s a learning curve for us all. We’ll go home and analyse the game and take out the good bits, and see if we can get better on the defensive side of the game. But listen, we’ve come to Celtic who have been knocking teams down like skittles this season. So we’re proud, not with the scoreline, but with what the boys gave today.”
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