Dermot Gallagher reveals Hearts text venting over Celtic red card but he's not buying it

Leading former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has revealed his pal contacted him to vent over Hearts star Alex Cochrane's red card against Celtic.

But the 65–year-old reckons his old mate was wrong as he backed Willie Collum's decision to urge Nick Walsh to consider upgrading Cochrane's yellow to a straight red. The man in the VAR booth believed the defender's tackle on Maeda was worthy of a straight red – as it denied the Japan international either a shot on goal or the chance to tee up Kyogo.

The decision to send Cochrane for an early bath sparked apoplexy among pundits, however Gallagher and Stuart Dougal have come out in support of the officials in Gorgie. Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch, the veteran official said: "One of my friends is a Hearts fan and he sent me a message last night saying he didn't think it was right. But I actually think it is a red card. The reason I think it is a red card, if you go sideways, at that point Cochrane is not going to catch (Maeda), he brings him down.

"The law says will he get a shot away? I think for the referee, in normal play, it is a yellow card. He can't see that. When he goes to the screen he sees what I've seen there. I just think it's obviously going to be a red card."

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