Nick Walsh League Cup final performance billed 'Champions League standard' as ex refs go weak at the knees

Former referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy have lauded Nick Walsh for his performance during Celtic vs Rangers at Hampden - touting him as a candidate to referee Champions League matches in the future.

Walsh was appointed as the match official for the hotly-anticipated Old Firm clash two weeks ago, and with tensions always likely to reach boiling point at Hampden, Walsh alleviated any fears of an abject refereeing performance with a composed, controlling display in the middle of the pitch.

He carded 10 players in total throughout the game but didn't allow the tie to spiral out of control on a day of high emotion. Roache and Conroy - the latter refereeing an Old Firm clash himself in 2010 - waxed lyrical about his performance, stating that he should be installed into UEFA competitions as a result.

The pair told Grosvenor Sport: “Nick showed why he’s the best referee we’ve got in Scotland. I think he’s been up there and we've John Beaton, Kevin Clancy, Willie Collum, these guys around the same level.

“But that performance showed he’s head and shoulders above what we’ve got. That cemented his status at the No. 1 referee in Scotland, he had a tremendous game.

"He waited until the 50th minute for the first caution, John Lundstram, and all the cautions were justified. The whole game he looked calm, composed, you didn’t see much remonstrating from players at ANY of the decisions.

"Nick will take immense credit from the performance. It will boost his personal confidence and boost his regard with players and other teams, so when Aberdeen, Dundee United etc see that Nick is in charge of their game, they know they’ve got the top man.

"He’s done Europa Conference League games and Nations League. Now he deserves the chance to