Martin O’Neill makes big Celtic penalty claim after controversial decision

Martin O'Neill reflects on a dramatic late victory for Celtic, keeping their title hopes alive ahead of a final-day showdown, despite debating penalty calls.

Martin O’Neill maintains Celtic’s championship aspirations are now in the hands of fate following a dramatic injury-time winner that has set the stage for a thrilling final day decider – while insisting there were two incidents that warranted a late penalty award.. The Hoops appeared destined to surrender crucial points on the penultimate Premiership evening after an enthralling 100 minutes of action.. With Hearts rampaging to a commanding 3-0 victory over Falkirk, the Tynecastle outfit

seemed poised to arrive at Parkhead this Saturday with the championship within touching distance.. However, Kelechi Iheanacho’s remarkable last-gasp spot kick delivered a stunning 3-2 triumph – preserving the Parkhead club’s quest for five consecutive titles going into the season’s finale.. O’Neill acknowledges his pulse was racing at the final whistle, with Celtic now requiring just one victory to claim a historic 56th championship, reports the Daily Record .. The experienced manager remarked: “They’ll have

to calm me down!. We’re in tomorrow morning.. The lads who played won’t do anything and will just wander around and we’ll get ourselves psychologically ready.. “We’ve done this before, we’ve played four games in eight days and travelling around Europe, going to Ibrox a couple of times.. Whether we win it or not is in the lap of the Gods.” Incensed Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou condemned the VAR penalty as amongst the worst

decisions he’s witnessed in his career after Sam Nicholson was controversially adjudged to have handled the ball.. O’Neill argued his Celtic team merited a penalty during the opening period when Daizen Maeda was brought down by Calum Ward.. The Northern Irishman told Sky Sports about the contentious late incident: “We got a penalty which looks as if it’s pretty clear cut.. Has he given it for the handball?. There was an elbow on top of

that too.. “The lads have a little monitor.. It’s very small.. I can’t really see it.. I need another pair of glasses to see it.. The lads thought it was a handball, an elbow as well too.. I felt we had a penalty in the first half but VAR cleared that one.. “We have to win the game.. Hearts don’t but at least we’ve taken it there.. It’ll be a big day.. It’s nice to

take it into the final game which looked a long way off five or six weeks ago.” O’Neill expressed relief at finally laying to rest the ghosts of Fir Park – 21 years after the heartache of Helicopter Sunday.. He remarked: “Absolutely.. In my own crappy little way it gets some sort of vindication.. It wasn’t really the same because that was the final day and we got beat but in another life I will

definitely visit Motherwell again.” While Iheanacho’s late winner triggered wild celebrations in the away end and a pitch invasion, O’Neill recognises another tremendous performance will be required on Saturday to overtake the Jambos.. He continued: “A monumental effort from the team and the supporters who were phenomenal and kept us going.. “They were cheering us on at 2-2.. Major effort against a very good Hearts side.. I think we have got a chance, we’re at

home.. The atmosphere will be fantastic.. “We have to win the game.. We knew this anyway, otherwise it was done for.. It’s exciting, taking it into the final day and the players have good belief they can do it.” Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond .

Celtic, Martin O'Neill, Premiership, penalty, title race, football, Iheanacho