I tell you what, as a Celtic fan I absolutely love a good Glasgow Derby. There’s nothing better than beating your rivals in a game that has real connotations on how the season is going to pan out.
This season the Hoops support has enjoyed a four-game unbeaten run in the big derby and yesterday’s win has taken Brendan Rodgers to within a hair width of another Scottish Premiership title.
And as usual, with these big games, come big flashpoints and there were two of them at Celtic Park.
We have already discussed Matt O’Riley‘s penalty award. There have been two differing opinions on that already today.
Earlier this morning we spoke about how Peter Grant said it was a stonewall penalty and also discussed Robbie Savage’s bizarre take on the spot kick award.
And now, the outspoken Savage has had another say on the other huge decision in the game and, this time, it seems that the BBC pundit is talking a little bit more sense now.
Savage in no doubt about Lundstram’s Celtic red card
I’ll be honest, I quite like Robbie Savage as a pundit. The way he bounces off Chris Sutton when speaking about the Scottish game is quite amusing.
Sometimes he says stuff (just like his take on the Celtic penalty) to generate controversy but he was in no doubt about the referee’s decision to send off John Lundstram for that tackle on Alistair Johnston.
Savage said [BBC 606], “I tell you what Chris, that game, I can’t believe there’s even a debate.
“Lundstram, own goal, then there was a straight red.
“I can’t even believe there’s a debate. It’s a stonewall red card.”
Savage is, of course, 100% correct. There is no dubiety or debate about Lundstram’s tackle on the Celtic defender.
In an age where VAR is sending off Celtic players for not even making contact with a high boot, Lundstram’s challenge on Johnston is one that needs to be stamped out of the game.
It was reckless and dangerous and could have led to a serious injury. Fingers crossed that there is no longer-term damage as the Hoops fullback did look like he was struggling for a while before he was eventually subbed off.