Celtic suffered a major blow in the Scottish Premiership title race this afternoon, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Right from the outset, it looked as though it would be a frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers' side. They were given a penalty in the 11th minute of the game, only for Ireland striker Adam Idah to produce a rather poor effort from the spot.
🧤 "Zander Clark makes the save!"
Here's how Celtic's Adam Idah was denied from the spot vs Hearts. Watch the game live on Sky 📺 pic.twitter.com/s1ojT867HA— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 3, 2024
Celtic's task in the game was made a lot more difficult soon after thanks to a straight red card.
Yang Hyun-Jun was the man that got it, with the referee giving him his marching orders for a high boot after a VAR check. While his foot was certainly high, it did seem like a slightly harsh decision.
🗣️ "The boot is high, it's an unfortunate one... He's made a genuine attempt to play the ball."
Celtic are down to TEN MEN after Yang is sent off for a high boot 🟥 pic.twitter.com/UQiwbM2qbj— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 3, 2024
While that decision can be debated, the one that went against Celtic later in the half has been widely panned.
Hearts were awarded a penalty a few minutes before halftime, with it being adjudged that Tomoki Awata handled the ball inside the box.
While the ball did make contact with his hand, the Japanese player knew nothing about it as he competed for a header. He was facing away from the ball and was also pushed in the back for good measure. It was a crazy decision, one you can watch below.
🗣️ "Hearts may not be in this title race but they could be having a say in it!"
Jorge Grant puts the home side in front against Celtic after VAR awarded a penalty for handball. What are your thoughts on the incident? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/8rdUVTHYwO— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 3, 2024
Jorge Grant would go on to convert the spot kick, with Lawrence Shankland adding a second for the hosts just before the hour mark.
In the end, Hearts would run out as comfortable 2-0 winners.
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Kris Boyd baffled by penalty given against Celtic in Hearts loss
This result sees Celtic drop two points behind Rangers at the top of the league, but even those associated with the blue half of Glasgow felt that The Hoops were hard done by on this occasion.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd admitted that he had no idea how the referee had awarded that penalty against Celtic in the first half of the game.
🍀 Celtic penalty
🟥 Yang red card
🖐️ Iwata handball
👀 Shankland offside
Ryan McGowan, Neil Lennon and Kris Boyd analyse all the talking points from an eventful first-half at Tynecastle. Hear their thoughts 🔽 pic.twitter.com/6vn6QNcl9V— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 3, 2024
This is an awful decision for me. How is this given as a penalty? Alistair Johnson barges into the back of Iwata.
The rules are the rules I guess, he makes himself bigger there. But what's he supposed to do there? Seriously, what is he meant to do?
The penalty is given, and you've got to say Grant tooks it away beautifully, unlike Idah. It's a beautiful penalty kick, he sends Joe Hart the wrong way.
But some of the decisions in that first half were baffling for me.
Neil Lennon would also call into question the decision to give the red card.
While they may feel unfortunate to have those decisions go against them, Celtic will need to quickly recover from this result in order to regain the ground they have lost in the title race.
That starts with the game against Livingston next weekend, where nothing apart from three points will do as they look to retain the league title.
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