Being a Celtic supporter is never easy, and last night was yet another testament of that as we were put through the old emotional wringer once again in a tense and frantic night of football at Fir Park…
From going behind and never looking like scoring to going 2-1 up thanks to brilliant goals from Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren, only to be hauled level with minutes remaining, to scoring a last gasp penalty kick to win the game.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored from the penalty spot
A final crucial act that moved us to one win from a fifth consecutive title. It was a ninety plus minutes that reduced us all to emotional wrecks, but sets us up nicely for a last day showdown with Hearts in Paradise.
Iheanacho was coolness personified
Kudos to Kelechi Iheanacho who was coolness personified as he calmly slotted away from the spot with literally the last kick of the game to send the travelling Celtic supporters as well as the many more watching elsewhere into a frenzy, but predictably it caused quite the stir amongst our rival supporters, Sky Sports panelists at Tynecastle, Derek ‘disgusting’ McInnes and media figures alike.
It seems we can’t win a game fairly, and last night was no different as the penalty decision in our favour caused a meltdown of biblical proportions.
I mean, the ball only hit off the Motherwell players hand, doubled with the fact his elbow obstructed Auston Trusty, so you can see why it would be seen as being in the ‘debatable’ category!
A stonewaller quite rightly awarded
I’m being sarcastic of course, as it was a stonewaller and quite rightly awarded by John Beaton after Andrew Dallas sent him to the monitor. But as the pundits and supporters raged all night long, it was conveniently ignored that we were denied an even more obvious spot kick on the cusp of half time when Daizen Maeda was blatantly fouled in the box by the Motherwell keeper.
For some reason or another John Beaton, and indeed Andrew Dallas and his colleague on VAR completely ignored that particular incident. Even Kris Boyd reckoned that the keeper wiping out Daizen should had been a penalty to Celtic. Swings and roundabout Boydy?
Our haters will try to taint this win as they always do, but Celtic won the game and we won it fair and square, through sheer hard work, desire and determination. Martin O’Neill and his players earned the right to contest a last day title showdown with Hearts, who looked a dejected lot when the Sky cameras turned to them after their broadcast ended at Fir Park. To think they weren’t even planning on showing that game is actually incredible!
Shades of St Johnstone 1998, and Rangers 1979
Motherwell were excellent in spells and over the post split fixtures they have beaten the Rangers, drawn with Hearts and took Celtic to the 97th minute before losing. Celtic collecting the three points at Fir Park sets up a day like the match against St Johnstone in 1998 when we had to win to win the League.
Or the game in May 1979 when Rangers came to Celtic Park looking to avoid defeat to win the league. They still had another game to play against Partick Thistle at Ibrox but for Celtic we had to win to be Champions and win we did, in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Hugely disappointed in Paul Hartley last night
The atmosphere at Tynecastle was one of shock, they looked dejected. Derek McInnes raged just as much as the John Robertson, Kris Boyd and the hugely disappointing Paul Hartley who well and truly showed his colours.
The Hearts manager described the Celtic penalty as ‘disgusting’ and for the second match in a row at Fir Park he named and shamed the match-day officials. Didn’t Brendan Rodgers get a two match ban for much less?
Where is the SFA’s Compliance Officer these days?
Saturday is going to be an extra special day in Paradise. Win all five post five fixtures to win the league. Four down, one to go. “You really must believe us….You really must believe us…You really must believe us…”
We’re gonna win the league!
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
HAVE YOUR SAY…Tell us your thoughts on last night’s dramatic match at Fir Park and what it means for Saturday as Hearts come to Celtic Park for a title showdown. Post in the comments section below…
Now the dust has settled.. The reaction from many high profile people is way over the top. John Beaton was advised to go to the monitor and saw that the ball hit the arm in an unnatural position Bottom line is people would hate to see Celtic win the title again and that is all.
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) May 14, 2026
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2 Comments
Were we fortunate? Yeah.
Was it a handball? Yeah.
If that happened in the 70th minute and we were already 3 goals up, nobody would bat an eyelid. Nobody.
Let the rage flow. 🤣
The reaction from so called pundits, only confirms in what we have to overcome within Scottish football, hence why we celebrate so wildly in the manner that we do.
The challenge on Maeda, was as easy and straightforward penalty decision, that is to be seen, yet totally ignored? Even so Engels should have buried the follow up, as he didn’t, the initial foul should have been given, with only one outcome available, and simply a penalty kick?
Potentially a totally different 2nd half would have been in store?
Take your pick upon the trusty incident?
Leading with the elbow, is a foul within itself. By doing so bought the defenders hand up, and when the ball hits the hand before the headed clearance, what other outcome do these eejits of pundits expect?
Var was introduced for such decisions, and as soon as trusty went down, it required another look at it?
Very simple and clear cut decision, especially with the freeze frame involved.
As with all these type of decisions, first thing that springs to my mind, is would the same decisions have been awarded as penalties against ourselves?
The obvious answer is yes, and we would struggle very badly to try and claim the decisions we’re not worthy of a penalty against ourselves imo?
Yet we get 1 out of 2 and a total meltdown?