Lennon rues ‘horrible’ ref call

Angry Celtic boss Neil Lennon claimed referee Willie Collum had cost his club the chance of a possible treble after a “criminal decision’’ not to award the Bhoys a last-minute penalty in the Scottish Communities League Cup final at Hampden.

As Celtic chased the equaliser, striker Anthony Stokes went to ground after a challenge by Killie defender Michael Nelson and in instead of celebrating a spot-kick, he was horrified to be booked for simulation.

Celtic could wrap up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title at Ibrox next week and are in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, but Lennon was adamant Collum had prevented his side winning a treble this season.

“It is a criminal decision and it has cost us the treble,” he said. “It’s a stonewall penalty. It’s a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.

“He’s clean through, he’s holding the boy off, the player lunges at him and takes his leg away and doesn’t get anywhere near the ball.

“So it’s a penalty and a red card, in the final minute of the game where we have banged away at the door. And to rub salt in the wounds, he books Anthony for diving which is awful refereeing. There’s no way Anthony Stokes would go down clean through on goal. Nelson’s reaction; he knows he has given a penalty away and he is hugely relieved. I couldn’t believe the decision myself.

“I shook Willie’s hand at the end of the game because I wanted to act in a dignified manner and I thought overall he had a decent game but that is a big call in a cup final and for me he’s got it horribly wrong.’’

Stokes was equally furious. “I got taken down in the box and it should have been a peno,” he said. “He has caught me on the ankle. As far as I’m concerned it was a peno.”

The Republic of Ireland striker felt he and his side merited more from the game.

Stokes saw a first-half header brilliantly stopped by man-of-the-match Cammy Bell and shot straight at the Kilmarnock goalkeeper after after the interval.

But Killie substitute Dieter van Tornhout headed home in the 84th minute after Celtic had enjoyed their best spell.

“Their keeper played very well but I thought we dominated,” Stokes said.

Lennon agreed with that summation. “We were wasteful in front of goal and in that respect we have only ourselves to blame,” said the former Celtic skipper.

“Disappointment is an understatement but if you don’t take your chances in any game you always leave yourself liable to a team nicking a goal and that is what happened. We dominated the game and missed loads of simple chances.

“Gary Hooper missed a sitter. You would have put your house on him and to be fair to Cammy Bell, he has made a wonder save from Stokes’ header after good play from Scott Brown, and then he has tipped one over the bar from Brown.

“We totally dominated the second-half, Stokesy had a great chance when he cut inside but hit straight at the goalkeeper, who then made a double save from Samaras and Commons. Some days your name is not on the trophy, that is football.”

* Kilmarnock’s celebrations turned to tragedy after midfielder Liam Kelly’s dad Jack suffered a heart attack and died after watching his son’s cup-winning performance.

Killie midfielder Liam Kelly’s dad Jack collapsed at the end of the Scottish Communities League Cup match at Hampden. He was treated by paramedics near the Kilmarnock dugout before being taken to hospital.

Players celebrated the 1-0 win oblivious to the medical emergency.

In the post-match press conference, Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels said the dressing room was left “despondent”.

Kelly was told before Kilmarnock lifted the trophy but the rest of his team-mates had collected their medals before discovering the news.

CELTIC: Forster, Matthews, Rogne (Ki 56), Kelvin Wilson, Mulgrew, Forrest, Brown, Wanyama, Ledley (Commons 86), Hooper (Samaras 80), Stokes.

KILMARNOCK: Bell, Fowler, Sissoko (Kroca 86), Nelson, Gordon, Kelly, Buijs (Johnson 20), Harkins (Van Tornhout 73), Hay, Shiels, Heffernan.

Referee: William Collum (Scotland).