Source: PA
Lennon unimpressed by penalty reversal
Neil Lennon described referee Dougie McDonald's controversial decision to rescind his penalty award to Celtic in their 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice as "unacceptable".
With an enthralling Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter level at 1-1 in the second half, after David Goodwillie had cancelled out Gary Hooper's opener before the break, McDonald pointed to the spot after United keeper Dusan Pernis dived at the feet of Hooper to prevent him going through on goal.
However, after consulting his assistant, Steven Craven, McDonald gave a bounce ball in the box. McDonald then had words with angry Celtic boss Lennon before his stand-side assistant Charlie Smith alerted the referee to missiles that had been thrown on the pitch.
Hooper scored a dramatic winner two minutes from time to extend the Parkhead side's winning run in the SPL to nine games ahead of next week's clash with SPL leaders Rangers, however, after the game the Parkhead boss was still seething about the penalty incident.
"He's given the penalty and for me he can't change his mind," Lennon said. "I didn't get an explanation until the referee came over and spoke to me. His explanation was that his linesman had a better view of it and the keeper had played the ball.
"I find that unacceptable. He looked pretty adamant to me when he gave the penalty. He got a really good look at it. Looking at the replay Pernis has got a touch on the ball but he has taken Gary as well. It was a very strange decision and we could have got a couple of other penalties as well."
