Walsh wanted to make ‘headlines’ and got it badly wrong as Celtic humbled by Rangers – pundit | OneFootball

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Football Insider

·4 May 2021

Walsh wanted to make ‘headlines’ and got it badly wrong as Celtic humbled by Rangers – pundit

Article image:Walsh wanted to make ‘headlines’ and got it badly wrong as Celtic humbled by Rangers – pundit

Frank McAvennie has accused Nick Welsh of wanting to make headlines as Celtic lost to Rangers on Sunday.

The former Celtic striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, fumed at the decision to send off Callum McGregor.


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Walsh, 30, refereed his first Old Firm game on Sunday and he needed to make some big calls early on.

Article image:Walsh wanted to make ‘headlines’ and got it badly wrong as Celtic humbled by Rangers – pundit

McGregor brought down Ryan Kent before doing the same to Glen Kamara and Walsh issued a yellow card for each offence.

The cards were issued in the 24th and 26th minute respectively as Celtic were a man and a goal down inside half an hour.

McAvennie claims the second decision was the wrong call and claimed Walsh ‘took the easy way out’.

“I’m looking at the boy and it’s his first big game,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.

“It’s always hard when a boy goes in to referee a big game like that but that [McGregor’s second yellow] was never a booking.

“20 minutes in, he knew that would have got him the headlines. I don’t get why he’s done it.

“There were no complaints from the Rangers boys, not about a second yellow.

“It wasn’t a booking, it was an easy way out for the referee. It was wrong.”

Article image:Walsh wanted to make ‘headlines’ and got it badly wrong as Celtic humbled by Rangers – pundit

Goals from Alfredo Morelos, Jermain Defoe and a Kemar Roofe brace took the game away from Celtic.

The Hoops managed to equalise after the Gers opened the scoring but they were behind again just minutes later.

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