Chris Sutton wasn’t shy in his reaction to a dramatic moment at the end of the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox, where Daizen Maeda had the chance to win it for Celtic with the final kick of the match. The former Celtic striker, now working as a pundit for Sky Sports, shared his thoughts on what he believed was a poor decision in a crucial moment.
Maeda found himself clean through on goal in the dying seconds, one-on-one with Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly. It looked like the perfect opportunity to snatch all three points, but instead of going for goal or picking out a better option, Maeda’s decision-making let him down.
Sutton pointed out that Johnny Kenny, who had come off the bench and made a big impression in a short time, was in a far better position. Kenny was free and screaming for the ball in acres of space, and a simple pass would have given him a tap-in. Sutton didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation.
He said: (Sky Sports), “This is incredible.
“Johnny Kenny is screaming to Daizen Maeda, ‘You’ve got to put it to me’.
“When he’s in position, had Maeda found Kenny there, he’d have had the easiest of tasks. Wrong decision. Rangers get away with it.”
Celtic fans might be frustrated they didn’t walk away from Ibrox with a win, especially after having already wrapped up the league title last weekend with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice. While this derby had no bearing on the title race, a win over Rangers is always welcome — and this one was there for the taking.
Maeda has been brilliant for Celtic all season, but this was a rare moment of hesitation. On the other hand, Johnny Kenny’s brief cameo was full of energy and purpose. Many fans on social media felt he deserved more minutes going forward.
With the league title secured, all eyes now turn to the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen. Celtic are still chasing a domestic treble, and moments like this serve as a reminder that sharp decision-making can make all the difference.
