SPL: Valgaeren was lucky to stay on so long - Wilson

Barry Wilson believes Celtic defender Joos Valgaeren was lucky to last 78 minutes before being sent off.

The Belgian saw red for a second bookable offence after a challenge on Livingston substitute Nathan Lowndes during Celtic's 3-2 win at Parkhead.

He had picked up his earlier yellow card for hauling down Wilson as he burst towards goal.

But manager Martin O'Neill insisted after the game that he was unlucky to lose the player for the last 12 minutes of the game.

Although the Livi midfielder reckons referee Garry Mitchell was correct with most of the decisions he made in the game, he claims the official should have dismissed Valgaeren at that stage in the match.

He said: "My personal thought was that I was through on goal but the referee's interpretation of that was different and it's all history now.

"It was a pity that we couldn't make more of that but the referee said 'no' and gave him a yellow card so that's it.

"I don't want to start blaming the ref because I thought he had a really good game and was very strong.

"He did book Mr Moravcik for diving and I thought he was very strong to do that."