A video clip came to our attention after the cup final on Sunday of Conor Hazard being knocked back into his goals by Steven Naismith who was constantly trying to upset the goalkeeper all game.
Naismith was getting away with so much in the game, he started taking liberties at times with some of our players. The Hearts player could’ve easily walked for his cheeky stamp on Scott Brown in the first half. When he realised it was going to take a lot for him to be sent off, he nudged, kicked and elbowed wherever possible.
In the lead up to Hearts second goal on Sunday, Naismith again was on Conor Hazard and as the ball comes in, he knocks the goalkeeper back.
We put the question out to our followers; was this a foul on our goalkeeper and should their goal have even stood?
Some Celtic fans think it’s 100% a foul while others think Hazard should be stronger. To be honest, I think they’re both right.
Hazard needs to stand up better but by the same token, had the game been overseen by VAR there’s little chance the goal would’ve stood in the end for the barge below.
Was Conor Hazard fouled in the lead up to their second?
I know it doesn’t matter now but we’ve seen how small things can cost us trophies, this could have been one. It looks like a barge…
— CeltsAreHere (@HereCelts) December 21, 2020
You can say keepers are overprotected but how many times have you seen this being called a foul?
People will ask ‘who cares?’, we won!’ however, these incidents are always worth dissecting, if you lose you get accused of sour grapes and if you win you’re told to not bother and get on with it.
I don’t see a consensus on this one at all. We hope Conor takes this lesson and learns from it at least.
Beaton has history of not protecting Goalkeepers when it suits him, ask Albion Rovers who were 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go at Ibrox in Scottish cup 3 years ago Their goalkeeper and ball were bundled into the net, one of the clearest fouls on a goalkeeper I’ve seen but the goal was awarded by Beaton. The guy just can’t help himself but that’s refereeing in Scotland for you.
The ref is supposed to PROTECT himself, and the players mostly. Celtic as a squad have to be much stronger. No more getting pushed around. They have to start doing the simple things they seem to forget during the game. No more bomb scares!!!!! They have to start to run the line through the defence for a start. You could’ve thrown a bath towel over all of them as they tramped about the six yard box. Shocking, they (and John Kennedy) should know better. They did make it over line (just!!) proud they created more history, afraid of what the next games will bring. But onwards and upwards, ehhh. COYBIG ?? NLFA ?? HWGFTINR ??