Former Celtic star Mark Wilson insists that Hearts star Andy Halliday was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty for a sliding tackle on Alistair Johnston.
With Ange Postecoglou's side leading in the Scottish Cup clash through Aaron Mooy's early goal, full-back Johnston flooded into the box and crossed a low drive across the six yard box, but was tripped by Halliday in the process of attempting to find a teammate. The Canada international gave up his penalty protests to referee Kevin Clancy quickly with the ball being cleared by the Hearts defence for a throw-in, and Willie Collum in the VAR room did not interfere to send the man in the middle to the monitor.
Celtic would go on to win by a convincing 3-0 margin to book their spot at Hampden, but Wilson told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard - where Halliday is a regular pundit - that action should have been taken by the officials. He said: "That is a shout for a penalty. I know Johnston crosses the ball, but it's one those ones where the two of them are going for it, and it's a 50-50. Johnston gets there before and the cross comes in, and I think Andy comes in mistimes it."
However, fellow pundits Gordon Dalziel and Hugh Keevins claimed Clancy and Collum had got the decision correct at Tynecastle. Dalziel said: "I know what Mark is saying. I thought when I first saw it Andy was running a risk, and he is, because he goes to ground. I thought that was the correct decision."
Keevins rounded off: "I think it's a close one. But, I don't think it's enough to get a penalty."
READ NEXT
