Sir Alex Ferguson dubbed it squeaky bum time.
And there were certainly plenty of bum notes from both Celtic and Rangers as more points were dropped at the weekend heading into the final 10 games of the Premiership title race.
The pressure is piping up to a full-pitched screech and, fittingly, our whistlers were once again at the centre of the debate after Gio Van Bronckhorst ’s appeal for VAR.
Stuart McLeod, Stepps, said: “Another weekend and yet again we see teams being refereed to different standards. Rangers have two marginal offside goals disallowed whilst Motherwell have an offside goal given. Rangers have three potential penalties denied, a red card challenge on Connor Goldson just before the break only given as a yellow. To compound the misery only three minutes of added time. Contrast this to Easter Road where Kevin Clancy plays seven of the six added on minutes awarded in that match. I’ve not heard too many Celtic fans complaining about refs since their very public AGM.”
Chris Lowe, Yoker, added: “Can someone explain how every Celtic game that’s a draw at 90 minutes gets a standard six or seven minutes injury time added on but when they’re winning by a slender margin it’s two or three minutes? It’s the exact opposite for Rangers. On Sunday Celtic played for nearly 100 minutes where as over at Ibrox Rangers got three extra minutes despite Motherwell wasting time throughout the match. The stats don’t add up its a bit like the fouls to bookings ratio that extremely favour Celtic.”
But Eddie Easson, Ballingry, argued: “Here we go again .. GVB The Messiah moaning about VAR. We haven't got it - deal with it. The faithful will be wearing t-shirts claiming they’d have won 56 if they had VAR.”
And Frank McFerran, Carrickfergus, said: “Rangers are handing the title to Celtic. Okay some bad decisions went against them but that’s no excuse. If they don’t wisen up, Celtic will access the riches of the Champions League.”
The Hoops may be three points to the good but the goalless draw at Hibs coming off the back of the European no-show against Bodo/Glimt suggests they are stuttering at the wrong moment.
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “Celtic’s performance levels are nowhere near where they were from the new year. Their play is slow and sluggish and they’re creating very few chances. They got away with one at the weekend with Rangers blowing a two-goal lead but doubt they will get away with it again. Maeda is an awful player who offers nothing.”
Gary Burns, Saltcoats, said: “Celtic have been poor in the last six games, Ange will have to put subs on earlier. They seem to have lost their confidence a bit since beating Rangers. He needs Christopher Jullien back in defence and as for Hart - he needs to stop his scare antics.”
John Scott, Grassmoor, said: “Ange Postecoglou can criticise Hibs all he wants but he can't alter the fact his team of all stars struggled to break down a side down to the bare bones. A team that's flattered to deceive for months. He blamed everything from Hibs parking the bus to the state of the pitch. Credit where it’s due, it was a good old fashioned don't let them pass display from the Hibees. No one needs to tell Hibs they need more bite up front but regardless we will take the point given our boys more than earned it.”
Celtic fan Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon , said: “You have to credit Hibs and Motherwell for their defensive efforts. Especially Hibs. We fans seem to think these teams will lie down. But they raise there game against us. It’s up to us to break them down.”
FIFA may have hit Russia with sanctions for the horrific invasion of Ukraine. But world football’s governing body haven’t gone far enough for many punters.
Keith Phillips emailed: “After corruption for years in FIFA they have stooped to a new low. How can they let Russia compete in the World Cup? It’s an absolutely disgusting decision by these weak people in charge of football. There are no words to describe them, as soon as Russia invaded Ukrainian they should have been banned from all sporting events including football. I respect to Poland and Sweden who have said they will not play Russia in the World Cup play off semi and final before FIFA made this unbelievable decision.”
Over to boxing now. And more dubious calls. Josh Taylor may have held onto his belts with a split decision victory over Jack Catterall on Saturday. But big fight fans were less than convinced.
Bill Towers emailed: “The world of boxing will be saying if you have got to fight Josh Talyor don't do it in Scotland after the way the judges voted. The British Boxing Board should step in and change the verdict and if Taylor was a man at tall he would give Jack the belts.”
But Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: “The public outcry over Josh Taylor being judged to have beaten Jack Catterall shouldn’t be directed at the Scottish boxer. He wasn’t at his best but neither were the judges who were supposed to do their job. It only brings the sport into disrepute. People won’t watch it after results like that.”
