Anthony Ralston insists Celtic won’t have their razor-sharp focus clouded by VAR delays.
And the Parkhead star is adamant the champions are not going to be affected by stoppages or have any trouble finding the ways to keep up their usual breakneck pace. Ralston was amongst the Parkhead stars involved through a variety of weekend incidents which impacted the Premiership on VAR ’s maiden outing.
Celtic ’s 4-3 win over Hearts finished nearly two hours after kick-off time due the additional time it took to sort out some key decisions. Boss Ange Postecoglou doesn’t care much for the theatre of VAR and the subsequent delays and, when it was put to him after the Tynecastle victory that it could affect the tempo of games, he said: “That’s why I was the least excited person about it. I just want minimal interference with minimal time because it is no secret that our football is based around having the ball and playing the game for as long as possible. Standing around and waiting for stuff is not great.”
But Ralston is confident his switched-on squad will handle it and come up with solutions as he said: “When the the ball goes out for a throw-in, corner, VAR stoppage, whatever it may be, we stay 100 per cent committed and focused.
“Personally, the stoppages don’t affect me. I think I can speak on behalf of the boys and say it won’t affect them either because we just have to stay 100 per cent focused at all times.
“Everything to do with that is outside noise to us. It’s about focusing on the task at hand at all times.”
Of course, it’ll take time for all teams to adapt, but Ralston added: “We’re going to have to. It’s in the game now. It’s not something that’s going to change, so we have to adapt to it and I don’t see it affecting us at all.”
Ralston’s beliefs are backed up by the fact VAR and its delays didn’t thwart Celtic’s ability to win at Tynecastle. However, he was involved in the first of a series of incidents which brought the use of the technology into unwanted focus.
Ralston’s bullet header from an Aaron Mooy free-kick with his team already 1-0 up was ruled out because Nick Walsh had blown for an alleged foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis in the box before it hit the net. The Greek’s offence seemed minimal, yet no-one knows in the park knew if VAR checked it.
Ralston stayed away from controversy as he shrugged: “Ach, these things happen. Obviously now we have the introduction of VAR.
“Look, I’m not the one to make the decisions, it’s up to the referees. I’ve heard that it should stand or whatever, but it’s part and parcel.
“Like I said, I’m not the referee. It’s out there in the heat in the moment. Obviously, I’d like to have my goal stood if it was meant to stand, but, again, these things happen.
“I just concentrated on putting the ball in the net. I don’t know what it should have been. From my point of view, I’ve put the ball in the net and he’s not given it.”
Of course, it was not the last of the day’s technology involvement. VAR official Stevie MacLean informed on-pitch referee Nick Walsh he had missed Cameron Carter-Vickers’ catch of Hearts star Cammy Devlin in the box and the original decision was overturned for Postecoglou’s side to lose a penalty leveller to Lawrence Shankland.
Seconds after that, the Celtic boss had his head in his hands and was laughing after VAR and Walsh opted not to punish a handball from home defender Michael Smith in the area when James Forrest’s clip clearly hit his arm. After Shankland and Giakoumakis swapped sharp finishes and Daizen Maeda pounced put the visitors 3-2 in front, VAR was again involved ordering the retake of a penalty ater encroachment.
Shankland sank the second attempt to complete his hat-trick, but Hoops sub Gerg Taylor had the final say with the late winner. Ralston said: “It was a tough day, but we expected that. It just shows the character we have as a team to see it through and come away with the victory.
“It’s football. Sometimes not everything is going to go to plan and it’s not always going to be a smooth ride. As I said, it just shows the character we’ve got in the team.”
Postecoglou may not have been chuffed at the VAR situations, but he was thrilled by his team again displaying their character and ability to win when posed serious questions and offered troublesome issues. Ralston said: “We don’t stop until the end of the game. The game never stops in our eyes and that’s always a clear message we’ve got as a team. To keep going to come away with nothing but the win.
“That’s the clear message we’re given. We don’t stop until the end of the game.
“Credit to the boys, they showed a lot of character to take their chances in key moments, even against adversity, and we sent the fans up the road happy. It’s not in our character to think it’s not our day. That’s drilled into us by the manager. That we don’t ever give up on the win. That’s what we are out there to do.”
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