Tony Docherty on Celtic penalty gripe as Dundee boss rinses VAR interference after 'soft' David Turnbull flashpoint

Dundee boss Tony Docherty insists it was a "really, really harsh" penalty call that kickstarted Celtic's second half rout of his side.

The Scottish Premiership champions were kept at bay during the first half before Ryan Howley fouled David Turnbull - with referee Grant Irvine initially awarding a free-kick with the challenged adjudged to have taken place just outside of the penalty box. However, the man in the middle was sent to the monitor to check his decision by Steven Kirkland in the VAR room. That led to Turnbull stepping up to open the scoring from the spot before Kyogo and Matt O'Riley rounded off a comfortable win for the Hoops.

However, the Dundee boss was less than pleased that Irvine had been sent to the monitor to review the decision - as well as branding the initial contact as "soft" on playmaker Turnbull. Speaking at the full-time whistle to Sky Sports: "I'm really disappointed with the penalty. It's such a soft penalty to concede.

"When you lose the first goal that really is the most important thing, and to lose it in that manner...I thought David Turnbull has been very cute.

"I've just watched it back a few times and I think there is minimal contact.. When the referee gives it it's outside the box, but to go back and look at that it was really, really harsh on us."