Ref Don Robertson has a busy afternoon at Dens Park as the Scottish Premiership leaders ran out 3-0 winners.
It was a battling performance by Dundee before they eventually succumbed to the onslaught from Celtic – and there was plenty to keep referee Don Robertson busy.
Brendan Rodgers‘ side pounded the home goal with chance after chance in the first half but had to wait until the second period before Celtic loanee Paulo Bernardo prodded the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Trevor Carson to open the scoring. Tony Docherty’s men would survive relentless pressure until Mikey Johnston came off the bench to notch a double for the visitors side as they continued their surge at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
But things could have been different on the scoresheet had whistler Robertson stepped in – or if Greg Aitken in the VAR room had intervened on several key flashpoints throughout the 90 minutes. The video technology has been a hot topic throughout 2023 – and that will certainly continue into 2024.
But the Dens Park showdown is one of just a hand full of fixtures left before year closes out in the Scottish top flight. Record Sport takes a look at the big calls.
CCV penalty cry
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been deemed unfortunate to not earn a Celtic penalty in their Premiership clash with Dundee. The defender was jostling with home defender Joe Shaughnessy and goalkeeper Trevor Carson in the first half of the game at Dens Park.
Shaughnessy appeared to have a hold of the Celtic defender’s shirt before letting go, as Carson came over the top of Carter-Vickers and looked to push him from behind. Former referee Des Roache told the Get Involved Referee podcast that it was “100%” a foul in the stramash but Hoops legend Scott Brown didn’t see it that way. He told Sky: “I don’t think Carson can but his hand over him, and he (Carter-Vickers) has a little kick out at him. I don’t think there is much in it.”
Kyogo dive or penalty?
There was another penalty claim for the visitors just before the half-time whistle. Kyogo was bursting through on goal when Luke McCowan slid into the box to bring the Celtic attack to an abrupt halt. The call was sent to VAR but the man in the middle was not sent to the monitor with McCowan appearing to win the ball initially.
Asked if it should have been a penalty, former Celtic hero Pat Bonner told BBC Sportsound: “I’m not sure. There was no real appeal from the Celtic players, but they didn’t really.” Kenny Miller added: “It definitely looked like there was connecting from McCowan and Kyogo. But you don’t know the contact, if there even was any.”
Greg Taylor ‘handball’
In the second-half, Dundee saw their claims for a spot-kick waved away as the ball fell to Aaron Donnelly on the edge of the box. Greg Taylor threw his body at the ball with the shot appearing to rebound off his hand.
Chris Sutton was quick to play it down on commentary for Sky – with VAR agreeing with the former Celtic hero: “It’s a deflection but it’s not a penalty for me.”
GET MORE NEWS HERE