Hughes annoyed by official blunders

JOHN HUGHES was once again left frustrated by the performance of match officials after Falkirk found themselves on the wrong end of three crucial decisions in the 1-0 home defeat by Celtic yesterday.

The Bairns were the better side for most of the afternoon and could count themselves unlucky to lose to a Scott McDonald goal that was later shown to be suspiciously offside while also missing out on two penalty claims.

Hughes, who was serving the first of a four-game touchline ban for a previous run-in with a referees’ supervisor, joked about further sanctions if he answered questions on the big decisions.

He said: “You can ask me about referees but I am in enough trouble. The next time I’m going to Alcatraz.”

Falkirk’s Kevin McBride seemed almost resigned to not getting decisions against Celtic or Rangers when he said: “I felt there was contact and it should have been a penalty but the ref never gave it so you just have to get on with it.

“I thought the referee was really good but over the course of the season big decisions do go against the smaller teams and in favour of the Old Firm.”

The Bairns had dictated the opening 45 minutes but in the third minute added on for treatment to Dean Holden, who was carried off with a broken leg following a challenge by Hoops skipper Stephen McManus, the Australian nodded home a cross by Shunsuke Nakamura to take the champions back to within four points of Premier League leaders Rangers and please manager Gordon Strachan.

“That was hard work,” said Strachan, who confirmed the signing of Middlesbrough youngster Ben Hutchinson on a pre-contract deal. “The conditions were not great and we didn’t play the right way for the first half-hour. So we are delighted to get a win.”

On Saturday, Rangers comfortably disposed of St Mirren 4-0 at Ibrox and the league leaders’ performance has convinced striker Steven Whittaker that Walter Smith does not need to plunder the transfer market to replace Fulham-bound Daniel Cousin.

“We’ve got a big squad at the moment anyway and there are boys there who are dying to get their chance, like Kris Boyd,” he said.