Celtic Diary Sunday October 2: The Perception of Bias Part 94

It’s probably fair to say that Celtic ground out a 2-1 win yesterday, and it’s probably fair to say that there’s still something missing from the team that prevents it from reaching the giddy heights of total football perfection that we saw prior to the injuries to both first choice centre backs.

It’s probably not quite as simple as saying that the spine of the team, and hence the confidence , has suffered a wee bit, but it’s certainly beginning to look like we could do with Starfelt and Carter Vickers back in the side.

They work together well, and inspire confidence around them.

Looking at Motherwell’s equaliser yesterday, it becomes clear that there is a little bit of confusion as to who runs the show at the back, It should be the goalkeeper, and our keeper has the experience to know that, but in what was one of those “Where were you when Kennedy was shot ? ” moments, he ran out to cover a hopeful punt, which was already covered by Josip Juranovic, and then ran back to have a lie down whilst the ball bounced into the net.

Yes, it was just one of those things, but the basics are simple, never pass back within the posts, just in case the keeper has wandered off or seen his mum in the crowd.

Ask this guy if you don;t believe me……

That rattled an already rattled Celtic, who continued where they left off in Paisley with that uncertain approach when things don;t quite go to plan, largely because it was Motherwell who came flying out of the traps and the Celts weren’t quite sure what to do.

Kyogo Fuhruhashi had given Celtic the lead when he helped a Matt O’Riley header into the net, and Reo Hatate belted one in from about three miles to restore the lead, but John Beaton, on loan from “rangers ” saw his chance to , shall we say, make his mark on the game.

When a referee cannot influence the outcome of a match, for example when the hoops storm into an early and unassailable lead, they tend just to go through the motions, and apply the rules to the best of their somewhat limited ability.

When there’s a chance to make a difference, they will take it, and quite enthusiastically so.

Beaton is known for his allegiances to another Glasgow club, having switched them over when his original favourites were placed in liquidation.

Now whilst supporters of most other clubs tend to support their own, there’s something unique about Ibrox fans, in that sometimes their hatred for Celtic overwhelms their love for their own club, which is fundamentally why their song list  doesn’t include inspiring lyrics, such as Walk On, or Hail Hail, or even the Willie Maley song.

Instead it’s all about what they hate, which is usually catholic or Irish.

And it’s why that perception of bias remains, as someone who readily admits to being a part of that mindset, such as Beaton, finds it impossible to remain impartial when he is in a position to harm those he perceives to be his natural enemy….those who threaten his own way of life.

He can’t help it.

Yesterday, with Celtic ahead 2-1, Beaton “missed ” this incident….

It’s a penalty.

Motherwell then are reduced to ten men, and Celtic may well go two goals clear with less than twenty minutes left.

However, the incident passed without action from Beaton, who knows that there is still a chance Motherwell can snatch a point, especially if there’s a similar incident at the other end……

In the meantime, every Celtic foul was a foul, and every Motherwell foul wasn’t, and it certainly wasn’t bookable….after all, his early cautions for a couple of Steelmen meant the stats afterwards would show he’d been tough on them.

And then came his big moment, his chance to help his new friends…..

https://twitter.com/i/status/1576238271436247040

Hatate sees MacGregor, and plays the ball toward him quickly, but not quite accurately enough, which seems to startle the Celtic captain, who is suddenly chasing the more alert forward. There’s a bit of pushing and shoving , and MacGregor is unaware that Stephen Welsh is storming across to cover, or maybe he is aware, but decides to take one for the team, so to speak.

Beaton, who at this point is probably in a state of arousal, shows no hesitation in sending off the Celtic captain, and that means there is now a greater possibility of Celtic dropping points for the second match in succession.

Helpfully, he adds on another five minutes at the end, despite not adding anything on in the first half which contained an awful lot of time wasting and other types of gamesmanship designed to upset the pace and tempo Celtic try to set.

However, for the first time in quite a while, a Celtic manager actually said something about the incident that didn’t involve him claiming temporary blindness, and that’s encouraging…

“Hard to see it but from my angle I thought we had a covering player. But the referee’s made that decision so we’ve just got to cop it.” 

BBC Sportscene mentioned the incident, and it was up to their expert, and I use that word in it’s loosest possible sense, to clarify as to why MacGregor commited the foul…..

“If he doesn’t, then it’s a straightforward chip over because Joe Hart’s in no-man’s land,” 

“There is a covering player, but he’s not getting there. No way. 

He [Tierney] can even take a touch towards Joe Hart and Welsh was never, ever going to get there, It’s the right decision because in the initial moment, it’s denying a goalscoring opportunity. No doubt about it.

“It’s a clever one, because had he gone through, he’s one-on-one with Joe Hart and could be lifting it over the top of him or going round him and making it 2-2. It would have been an interesting last few minutes had it been that and a chance that Celtic could have dropped more points.

“So it was a really, really clever foul. He’s had to take the punishment and they’ll have to do without their captain for the next game. But he could potentially have stopped them dropping points there.”

So that’s that then, the Motherwell forward would have simply chipped the keeper with aplomb after avoiding a defender hurtling towards him….with MacGregor still chipping at his heels, .showing  a combination of composure and technical skill that means he wouldn’t have been playing for Motherwell in the first place.

But notice the narrative finishes with a well done to MacGregor, for denying a goalscoring chance no less than thirty yards form goal…..

My own take is that MacGregor didn’t see Welsh, and felt he had to commit, which maybe, once again, points to a lack of communication and awareness at the back.

Welsh, incidentally, had a decent game, and proved he’s worthy of a squad place and at the same time not deserving of the nonsense he has to put up with from some sections of the support.

There’s a clue there….support…..

Anyway, we hear Cameron Carter Vickers has a better than average chance of making the Leipzig game……..