Gary Lineker banishes Rangers moaning over penalty as Celtic spot kick has Alan Shearer saying 'goodness me'
Rangers and Celtic’s latest battle has caught the attention of pundits down south.
Gary Lineker has dismissed some Rangers dismay over a penalty against the Light Blues versus Celtic - as the spot kick left Alan Shearer breathless.
A 2-2 draw played out in the Old Firm that helps neither in their quest for the Premiership title. Hearts now have a six-point lead over Rangers in second while the current champions are eight back with a game in hand, Celtic taking a point after they were awarded a late penalty for handball by Dujon Sterling.
Ibrox icon Ally McCoist and ex-referee Keith Hackett have complained over the handball law after Daizen Maeda’s close range header cannoned off the right-back, but England icon Lineker reckons VAR was right to intervene. Reo Hatate eventually scored after missing the penalty and initial rebound, leaving Newcastle United icon Shearer shocked. Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast with Shearer and Manchester City hero Micah Richards, Lineker delivered his Old Firm assessment.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer on Rangers vs Celtic
Lineker: “Just before we go, any either of you watched the Old Firm game?”
Shearer: “Yeah.”
Richards: “No, I didn't. I was sleeping.”
Lineker: “Oh, my word. It was a cracker, wasn't it? It was end-to-end stuff. What did you think of the VAR one in that one? I actually thought it was handball. Alan, I know you didn't, because I only say that because under the rules, again. I'll go back to it that I don't like the handball law but I think it stopped it going in the net. I think without that handball, it would have gone in the net.”
Shearer: “What about the penalty, though? He had three stabs at it, didn't he? The keeper saved it twice. It was like, oh, goodness me. I can imagine. You can hear the atmosphere because I've been to Rangers, I've been to Celtic, in those games. I mean, you can imagine how tense it was in the stadium, can't you?”
Lineker: “Great result for Hearts, I would suggest. It's looking good for them. Looking good.”
Shearer: “Yeah, absolutely. With their win the day before, so yeah. Looking good for Hearts, yeah.”
Lineker: “Bit of history in the making.”
Who do Rangers and Celtic play next?
Up next for the Light Blues is an Old Firm rematch, hosting Celtic again, this time in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. Celtic have to negotiate their game in hand at Aberdeen before they can start thinking about battling their rivals again.
Hoops captain Callum McGregor said: "It's difficult when you come here and the crowd get on top of you. They're a good side, they're direct, they make you defend. We were by far the better team second half. Long way to go, a point is a good result, it keeps it in our hands as well."
Ex Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday said on Sportsound: “I didn't think a point was particularly good for either side. On the balance of play, I think a point's probably a fair result. Rangers completely dominated the first 45 minutes, played forward, played with loads of energy. It was completely roles reversed in the second half.”