HIBERNIAN manager Lee Johnson has hit out at the ruling that saw him banished to the stand for his side’s defeat to Motherwell, saying that it ‘doesn’t make sense’.
Johnson picked up his fourth caution of the season at Celtic Park prior to the international break, when he was booked by referee Steven MacLean after a member of his coaching staff threw a second ball onto the field of play.
Despite not being personally involved, it was Johnson who carried the can, and he was frustrated not to be able to influence his team as they went down with a whimper to the Steelmen at Easter Road.
“I couldn’t get into the dressing room,” Johnson said.
“I don’t like it, it’s a stupid rule. If I’ve done something, book me. If my staff do something, book them.
“You can’t murder somebody then someone else gets done for murder. It doesn’t make sense.”
Johnson’s players may have been relieved not to have to face him following a dreadful performance, as he may well have murdered one or two of his charges.
"We were really poor today,” he said.
“I didn't see it coming, if I'm honest. I wasn't in the dressing room before the game because I'm not allowed to be, but I suppose I have to hold my hands up and take responsibility for that.
"We didn't start well at all; technically or physically. We didn't look like us, we didn't turn the opposition at all. Balls that went into centre-forwards were lost quickly and allowed Motherwell to build up a head of steam and it's a really, really frustrating one.
"I did all I could in terms of personnel and shape changes in a bid to get us a foothold, but you've got to give Motherwell credit for their performance, but I really did feel that there was an opportunity there and it's a massive opportunity missed given the other results - even though we can't expect other results to look after us.
"We have to look after our own performances and build our performances. It's just an inept technical and tactical performance."
Meanwhile, Johnson said he was surprised to see Ange Postecoglou’s bristling response to his comments about the Scottish Premiership being ‘almost too easy’ for Celtic from earlier in the week.
“I saw that,” he said.
“It didn't sit well with me, but I don’t know how it was framed to him. That was not the intention or the tone. But we all know how a nibble is seduced by the wrong context. “I have nothing but respect for Celtic, Ange Postecoglou and everyone else. “But maybe he’s used it as a bit of a sharpener for his own team.”
