CELTIC dropped two vital points at the weekend but it could’ve been so much different if Giakoumakis had buried an injury time penalty.
The scrutiny around the big Greek and his missed spot kick has been going on since the final whistle on Saturday.
The overwhelming consensus is the timing and magnitude of the penalty shouldn’t have been given to a player who had yet to take a spot kick for the club.
Juranovic had already taken two and scored both before the Livingston game. Given the gravity of what was at stake in the game, Frank McAvennie believes Callum McGregor should’ve stepped in as captain and instead the Croatian take the shot.
“The manager came out and said after the Livingston game that he had put Giakoumakis on penalties.” McAvennie told The Herald.
“He is sticking up for his players and that’s what a manager should do.
“But Juranovic has taken two really important penalties and dispatched them with great authority so I really don’t know why Ange made the change.
“He should have stuck with the full-back.
“Listen, if it had gone in, nobody would care. But, of course, it didn’t.
“It was probably the worst penalty I have seen. In the 92nd minute, you have got to put your laces through it.
“It is not the time in the game to be doing something funny. Giorgos tried to be far too clever with it. It was an awful attempt.
“As a fully paid-up member of the Centre Forwards Society, I do get that Postecoglou was wanting Giakoumakis to get his goal tally up.
“But it was a lot of pressure to put on a boy who hasn’t taken a penalty at Celtic at that stage in the game. For that reason, I would have given it to Juranovic.
“I think Callum McGregor, the captain, should have stepped in, sorted it, taken it away from Giakoumakis and said: ‘No, Juranovic is taking it’.
“As I say, it seems strange to change it when Juranovic has done so well.”
Hindsight is a great thing, and as Frank concedes, if Giakoumakis had scored, nobody would be talking about Juranovic not taking it on.
Ultimately, the manager has made the decision and it’s a bit of a stretch to put the blame at Callum McGregor’s door. The captain should have a big say on the pitch but if the manager set out set piece instructions, they should be honoured.
Imagine Callum was visibly seen taking the ball away from the Greek striker, passing ut to Juranovic and the Croatian missing the chance.
As Ange said after the game, sometimes players miss penalties and unfortunately, Saturday was one of those times.
