Celtic penalty evidence shoots outlandish Hibs gripe down as 'not one person' claim falls apart

Stewing Nick Montgomery's sense of injustice was evident across three gutted post-match interviews.

Those of Hibs persuasion were left inconsolable as they lost to Celtic 2-1 despite having the misfiring Premiership champions teetering on the brink at Easter Road. Montgomery has been keen to fight for his club and there was no major shock he offered the counter-argument to spot kicks awarded for fouls on Alistair Johnston and Kyogo Furuhashi.

The 42-year-old also went to bat for Martin Boyle who was shown a yellow card for simulation for an incident where he collapsed to the turf after, what appeared as, minimal contact with Alexandro Bernabei. Montgomery reckons Nick Walsh and his VAR official were off on the big calls. But the Hibs manager's complaint of the winning Celtic penalty falls flat over one particular gripe he had over the award. Montgomery – speaking to the assembled media – vented: "Not one person or anybody in the stadium thought about asking for a penalty."

However, that wasn't the reality. Matt O'Riley was gesticulating wildly that Kyogo had been wiped out by Joe Newell and he was backed up by Anthony Ralston plus Luis Palma on the other side of the pitch.

And – those within Easter Road – state there were shouts from the touchline too as the away side believed Kyogo had been upended. Montgomery's reasoning proved immaterial once VAR advised Nick Walsh to have a peek under the hood. Adam Idah scored and Celtic won the game, much to chagrin of Montgomery.