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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Peter Davidson

Alistair Johnston Celtic goal questioned as Jack Ross reveals surprise it was given

Alistair Johnston's goal for Celtic against St Mirren shouldn't have stood, according to Jack Ross and Chris Iwelumo.

The Celtic full-back put Ange Postecoglou's side 2-1 up in the 61st minute after he connected at the back post with a Daizen Maeda free-kick. Mark O'Hara gave the home side a sixth-minute lead from the penalty spot but St Mirren's hopes of repeating their September victory over the champions were undone by Charles Dunne's professional foul and 38th-minute red card.

Goals from Jota and Alistair Johnston turned the game on its head and substitutes Liel Abada, Matt O'Riley and Oh Hyeon-gyu all scored as Celtic triumphed 5-1 and restored their nine-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Premiership. However, it was Johnston's goal that led the debate on Sportscene with both Jack and Iwelumo agreeing it should have been chalked off by referee David Dickinson. Iwelumo believes the Canadian international handled the ball into the back of the net, while the former St Mirren boss believes O'Hara should have had a foul for climbing.

Iwelumo said: "It's handball. I don't know why VAR don't look at that, it's such an important goal as well. That is handball into the back of the net. VAR should look at that and say 'it's handball'. If anything he's climbing all over O'Hara as well, but it's handball directly into the back of the net."

Jack added: "I think when you look at the other instances, not just at that game. It's surprising that given the potential foul in terms of being over the back of Mark O'Hara and then the fact that it's in off his arm. Those are two things that you think the VAR official would ask David Dickinson to come and have a look at."

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