Celtic 1-2 Celta Vigo – Martin missing the point by calling out refereeing errors
However that really is clutching at straws and the Celtic manager needs to look closer to home to find the reasons for a fourth consecutive European defeat…
The Celtic boss was particularly annoyed the clear obstruction on Camilo Duran a few seconds before the award of a free kick to the Spaniards, an opportunity that led to their equalising goal.
Discussing the incident on TNT Sports, O’Neill said: “We conceded a free-kick but I thought that just seconds before that, we had a foul for us.
“The referee has disowned that and given them a foul about ten seconds later. Then they score from the free-kick.
“That’s just knocked us a little bit but there’s still plenty of time to recover at one-each in the game. But that’s given them a bit of momentum and they’ve carried it through.
“If Scales’ header goes in to make it 2-0, then we’ll get the three points. It’s fine margins.”
Last week it was all about Celtic being better in the second half and Benfica wobbling at 3-1, blah, blah blah…
Martin O’Neill was also annoyed over the call not to penalise a foul on Callum Osmand just on the edge of the box, despite huge protests from the home support and the Celtic players for what looked like a clear-cut free kick at the edge of the area.
According to the veteran Irishman the referee told him there was a check by VAR on the incident but there was no intervention.
“First of all, I think it’s a foul against Osmand in the first half,” said O’Neill. “The referee says VAR were checking it. I don’t know what they’re checking because for me that’s a very obvious foul.
“I thought it was a foul against Camilo as well too just before their equaliser but in the scheme of things, that seldom matters.
“I didn’t think it was one of his best games to be perfectly honest but we’ve been beaten in the game and we’ve lost three matches now. But remarkably, we’re still in with a chance. We’ve got to win and we’ve got to win here, we’ve got to win away from home.”
Celtic’s remaining Europa League five matches are against Besiktas at Celtic Park on 5 November, SC Uniao Torreense in Portugal on 26 November, Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus on 10 December, Marseille at Celtic Park on 21 January 2027 then finally away to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium on 28 January which will possibly be the toughest remaining challenge.
Clutching at straws time – can Celtic still qualify?
It looks like we’ll need to take around 12 points to qualify but an optimist would tell you that these are all winnable games for Celtic, with two away games against so-called weaker opponents – who strangely have managed to pick up their fair share of points so far – and the matches at Celtic Park against teams Celtic should be competitive against if we play to our best.
Looking at the table as it stands Union Gilloise sit in 7th place with two wins and a draw from their three games. Besiktas are one place behind in 8th position with the same record as the Belgian side. Omonia Nicosia have six points with two wins and one defeat so far while the Portuguese second division outfit have won a match to collect three points which sees them sit in 28th position in the table.
Marseille like Celtic are pointless and sit one spot above Martin O’Neill’s side on goal difference. The French side are currently in 34th position in the table with Celtic in 35th ahead of only Ararat Armenia who have conceded more goals than Celtic.
