It looked a penalty, to be fair.
As is so often the case in big games, the drama came late at Celtic Park on Sunday.
The most recent Old Firm derby finished honours even, with a Clint Hill equaliser cancelling out Stuart Armstrong’s first-half opener.
But there was almost even later drama involving Hill as a seemingly legitimate penalty shout from Celtic substitute Leigh Griffiths was waved away by referee Bobby Madden.
https://twitter.com/CelticLisboa/status/840923181951139841
Hill made initial contact with Griffiths under a bouncing ball in the Rangers box but the spot-kick was not given, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Hill knew he was lucky to get away with it, as it would likely have resulted in a second yellow card for the defender too, and he admitted to Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers that it was indeed a foul.
“I felt it was a penalty at the end,” Rodgers said after the game.
“Clint Hill told me he felt he got away with it and that tells me it was a penalty.”
But even though Celtic conceded late on, they remain undefeated in the league this season and enjoy a 25-point advantage at the top over nearest competition, Aberdeen.
And Rodgers wasn’t too broken up about the outcome of Sunday’s derby, all things considered.
“I was much happier with the second half. Scott Brown was absolutely incredible,” he continued.
“It shows the level the team is at. We are disappointed not to take the win but when you don’t you take the three points then make sure you get one and we did that.”
