MX23RW : Monday, December 23 10:52:14| >> :600:185723:185723:
[monks data]
Attendance: 18,339
Hibs logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 7
Sep 28, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
Celtic logo

1-1

Ajer (8' og.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Christie (24')

Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom hits out at "shambles" in Celtic draw

Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom hits out at
© Reuters
Ryan Christie cancelled out an own goal from Kristoffer Ajer.

Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom described the incident which led to his dismissal in the 1-1 draw against Celtic as a "shambles" and a "farce".

Hoops defender Kristoffer Ajer put a Christian Doidge cross into his own net in the seventh minute at Easter Road but the Ladbrokes Premiership champions levelled in the 24th minute after referee Kevin Clancy belatedly blew for a foul on Celtic winger James Forrest in his own half.

Amid some confusion, when play restarted Celtic right-back Moritz Bauer was sent down the right by midfielder Olivier Ntcham and Ryan Christie headed in the cross.

Heckingbottom kicked a water bottle in frustration which struck assistant referee Alan Mulvanny.

He admiited he should not have done that but then swore at fourth official Nick Walsh which led to him being sent to the stand by Clancy.

"There is a swear word in there and I said it was his fault that he gave it," said Heckingbottom.

"The ball was pulled back for something the fourth official seen.

"That is not transmitted to the players.

"Some players think it is a drop ball and they are getting the ball back or something,  others understand it was a free-kick.

"It was a shambles, it was farce, that spell of play.

"No one appealed. Some thought it was because Forrest was down with an injury.

"It was a farce but we will be looking  at why we didn't deal with it and how they scored."

Heckingbottom claimed the biggest injustice of all was Ntcham being only yellow carded in the 38th minute for raising his hands to Josh Vela, who was also cautioned.

Asked if the Hoops midfielder should have been sent off, the Hibs boss said: "Come on. Three times for the three punches.

"That's the biggest injustice. Everyone has been let down by that.

"All the supporters, all the players, everyone connected with the club.

"There was an incident, a couple of arms thrown, he can claim he didn't see it, fine, but he is stood between the two players when the third one comes in on the end of his chin.

"You tell me why he wasn't sent off.

"Everyone has bad games but there was something different about that, that's not right.

"That is the injustice I am feeling right now."

Neil Lennon also harboured a sense of injustice, claiming Celtic were denied two "clear cut" penalties in the second half after Christie was tackled by Lewis Stevenson before Bauer was challenged by Hibs substitute Daryl Horgan.

He said: "It was a good performance. I am not going to criticise the players.

"We have made a tremendous start to the season and while I am not here to criticise referees I thought we should have had two clear cut penalties.

"Not one, two.

"Daryl Horgan has taken out Bauer and Stevenson has taken out Ryan Christie, also as he has gone to cross it. They are two penalties. At least give us one.

"We deserve that, we earned the right to a penalty.

"The linesman is 10/15 yards away and has a great view of it.

"We are 40 yards away and still have a great view of it and you know when a foul is a foul.

"But the reaction was good and we really tried to force the issue in the second half but it wasn't to be today."

ID:373188: cacheID:373188:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5794:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Easter Road, home to Hibernian, from 2014
Read Next:
Robbie Stockdale: 'Hibernian not thinking about league table ahead of Celtic'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1614204444044
2RangersRangers1611232891935
3Aberdeen17104331211034
4Motherwell178272327-426
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd176742519625
6St Mirren187382429-524
7Dundee175482730-319
8Hibernian184682430-618
9Kilmarnock184681935-1618
10Hearts1844102027-716
11Ross County183691435-2115
12St Johnstone1842122134-1314


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!