Paul Lambert derails Celtic quality debate as double Rangers inquest swerved for VAR 'shambles' slapdown

Irked Paul Lambert shut down a debate over the quality of the Old Firm this season - as he took aim at the VAR calls that went against Celtic during the defeat against Hearts.

The Scottish Premiership title race is set to go to the wire with both Rangers and the Hoops falling to defeat on the same weekend for the first time since February 2018. Philippe Clement's side saw their 11-game winning run brought to an abrupt end by Motherwell as the Steelmen claimed their first win at Ibrox in 27 years - while 10-man Celtic failed to capitalise on the slip-up by losing 2-0 to Hearts less than 24 hours later.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jeff Stelling arrived at the conclusion that the results for the Glasgow giants showed a lack of quality in the battle to become Scottish champions. Former Parkhead captain Lambert joined the former Sky Sports presenter and Rangers hero Ally McCoist on the Breakfast Show, and Stelling said: "As an Englishman I am going to rain on both of your parades.

"The fact that it is so close, that's great - but between them Celtic and Rangers have lost eight games in the league this season. Does this just tell you that the quality of these Rangers and Celtic sides is not up to what it has been in the past?"

However, Lambert wasn't up for the debate - instead moving the conversation on the performance of the match officials at Tynecastle. Brendan Rodgers wasn't impressed by the performance of referee Don Robertson and John Beaton in the VAR room - claiming that the clash was decided by the off-field team in Clydesdale House.

In response to Stelling, Lambert said: "I hate comparing eras. I don't think you can because it's a different game in certain aspects. The game is still the same - the ball is the same