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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie & Peter Davidson

What Rangers and Celtic pundits said as John Hartson unleashes on 'embarrassing' Connor Goldson handball snub

A late equaliser from Kyogo Furuhashi earned Celtic a 2-2 draw against bitter rival Rangers at Ibrox to retain their nine point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

The game had its talking points from a Rangers penalty to Celtic performance and the pundits were not shy in coming forward to give their views on the top of the table clash. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for the Parkhead side in the fifth minute after taking advantage of bad pass from Alfredo Morelos to James Tavernier.

Shortly after half-time Ryan Kent blasted in an equaliser two minutes after the break before captain James Tavernier slammed in a penalty five minutes later. With three minutes left of normal time Kyogo slotted a shot past McGregor to give Celtic a vital point, but that's not the end of the talking points with VAR popping up again after a controversial call that saw claims against Connor Goldson go unpunished.

So what are the big issues? Record Sport looks at what pundits had to say following the New Year clash:

Chris Sutton

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton took to social media to say the Parkhead side were "way off it" today in the derby match at Ibrox.

Taking to Twitter, he said: "Celtic got away with that. CCV was immense. Too many players way off it. Mooy excellent when he came on. Juranovic would have struggled to impress any watching scouts… would Willie Collum in the VAR hut have awarded a penalty had a Celtic player handled the ball like Goldson??"

Stan Petrov

The former Celtic midfielder Stan Petrov said Ange Postecoglou will be happy that his team maintained their nine point gap at the top of the Premiership. Petrov admitted the performance wasn't up to the normal standards. He told Sky: "Today it was all Rangers, they were pushing hard, they were on the front foot and it's something he (Ange Postecoglou) knows that will happen from game to game. Unfortunately it wasn't there today but they managed to get a point. They didn't gain anything but not lost and that's the satisfaction of the result today."

John Hartson

Former Celtic hero John Hartson was left bemused by the decision to not award a penalty after the ball hit the hands of Connor Goldson. He told the Go Radio Football Show: "We said this before the game, we didn't want to be in this situation (talking about VAR). The problem is it's clear and obvious. It hit his (Goldson) arm. Natural, your arms are by your side. Unnatural is when your hands are up in the air. How on earth the penalty is not given I will never, ever know. We're all thinking in here that it's a penalty. Where is John Beaton's positioning? Ok, you can say he missed it, but Willie Collum on VAR, how many times do you have to see it? Rangers will feel aggrieved they didn't win the game, but that decision to not give a penalty for handball by Connor Goldson is embarrassing."

Barry Ferguson

Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson struggled to come up with a defence of Connor Goldson and the officials. He told The Go Radio Football Show: "For me Connor Goldson's hands are in an unnatural position when it strikes his hands and Rangers have got away with one there. I know that is going to be the talking point coming out of the game. Rangers were really good in the way they approached the game, but in my honest opinion it strikes his hand and, yup, penalty."

Neil McCann

The Ibrox hero filleted Morelos during the game but returned to Sportsound to heap praise on strike partner Fashion Sakala. He explained: "Morelos' show has been shocking today. I don't think he has any confidence he can take the ball in agaisnt these two centre-backs. He just doesn't look at it. I am not sure how fit Antonio Colak is but he must be a better option in terms of his game and his application level, as he's now showing any of it.

Packie Bonner

There's no doubt in the Celtic favourite's mind where the league title is going. He reckons a draw today means its don and dusted. He told Sportsound: "I am sorry to say I think the league is over. That second goal Celtic scored has killed the season. When you are nine points ahead... I don't think Celtic will play as bad a game. It's going to be a huge task for Rangers to turn it around."



Kris Boyd

The former Rangers striker has admitted the title race between Celtic and the Ibrox side is "over" after the late equaliser from Kyogo. He told Sky Sports: "Can Rangers beat Celtic in a game, yeah they could but Rangers' problems are elsewhere. Celtic just seem to be steamrolling over the top of every team in the Scottish Premiership. You felt as if there was any hope Rangers would have had to win today but they haven't, and for me it's over. To judge Rangers it was always going to be on today in terms of have they improved recently. They have there is no doubt about it but there is a long way to go.

James Tavernier scoring a penalty for Rangers early in the second half (Getty Images)

"It was an underperforming Celtic squad that have came and left with a point. If you are going to challenge Celtic over the course of the season you are going to have to get player in." Boyd also doubted John Beaton's decision to award a penalty to the hosts after Fashion Jr went down after a challenge from Carl Starfelt in the second half. He said: "'I'm still not sure if it is a pen or not. I think Sakala stands on Starfelt who then goes to ground."

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