Celtic manager Neil Lennon felt justice was done after Fraser Forster saved a last minute penalty to earn his side a narrow 1-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead that keeps them four points off the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Victor Wanyama's superb 72nd minute swerving strike looked to be enough to earn the Hoops all three points before the Kenyan was penalised for handling in the box 60 seconds from time.
However, keeper Forster saved the defender's blushes when he dived low to his left to pull off a wonderful one-handed save to keep his side in touch with rivals Rangers, who won 2-0 away to Hibernian, at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
And Lennon said the result was the right one after claiming Calum Murray's penalty decision was harsh on his side.
"I thought we thoroughly deserved the win and we feel a little bit of justice was done at the end," the Celtic manager said.
"I'm thrilled for the players because I think it would have been a huge disappointment not to win the game with the way we played.
"I'm disappointed with the penalty decision but I'm also disappointed with the way we dealt with the initial corner.
"I have seen the penalty and I assume he has given it for handball. But if you actually see where the ball goes it is impossible for Victor to play the ball in that direction with his hand, so I don't know how much of a good view Calum got of it.
"I can understand a little bit why the decision was given as Victor has used his hand for leverage but for me he didn't make contact with the ball and it came off Ryan Stevenson's head."
The Celtic boss also praised Forster for his vital save and said the keeper had been due to stop a spot-kick.
"I kept saying to him 'when are you going to save a penalty for us?' He has gone the right way and got a great hand to it and I'm thrilled for him," Lennon said.
"It's not to do with character but it's about players pulling out big moments and he's made a great save for us.
"Even though he has relatively little to do in the last couple of games his handlings been good his kicking been good and I think he has goven the back four a lot more confidence.
"It's been a good day for us again. That's six wins in a row so I can't ask anymore of the players at the moment."
In a dramatic finish Hoops captain Scott Brown, who was making his return from a long injury lay-off as a second-half substitute, clashed with Jamie Hamill at the end of the match as emotions ran high.
However, his manager was quick to play down the incident.
"I didn't see it but I do know some things were said to Scott when the penalty was awarded and I think he was just giving a little bit of verbal back, nothing more than that," Lennon said.
"There was not a lot to write about there, just a bit of verbal sparring more than anything."
Celtic now face a tough away fixture to Udinese in the Europa League which the Parkhead club need to win if they are to remain in Europe into the new year.
And goal scorer Wanyama, who was delighted to get his first strike for the club, said the players were confident of progressing following their sixth league win in a row.
"I think we will go with the same spirit and we want to win on Thursday and go on with our Europa League run," the Kenyan international said.
"We are confident and now I think the team is really playing well and we are looking to take all three points."
Source: AFP
