Eight Games Left, Three Points Clear And Every Decision Celtic Get Is Under The Spotlight.

As the clock ticks down and as Celtic’s grip on the top spot tightens, the hacks are getting increasingly desperate.

The scrutiny of some of the decisions at yesterday’s game is so over the top you had think we’d committed some crime against football.

Earlier in this season, it was Hearts bitching for days on end about a throw in.

Now all eyes are turned to a corner kick.

Amazing that they should choose that to get so uptight about, as we’ve been almost utterly useless at set-pieces all season long. How fortunate for them that the first one we get right in a long time gives them something to moan at.

Note how the Livingston defender who scythed down Rogic when he was already on a yellow isn’t the subject of the scrutiny. Note the two penalty decisions we didn’t get aren’t being given a closer look.

Note too that Ibrox’s winner against Aberdeen on Saturday would have the swirl of controversy about it if the hacks weren’t so busy high-fiving with relief. Arfield should have seen red too.

And they needed the benefit of the doubt on that game, having not, prior to the goal, put a single shot on target.

There were just nine minutes left.

Had they not scored, the engravers would already be halfway towards putting our name back on the SPFL trophy.

This is only going to get worse, and it’s already pretty bad.

This club will face more scrutiny than it ever has before as the games continue to tick down.

If we win against Dundee Utd in the cup we’re ten games from a domestic treble again …

Ange has a right good chance of that at this point, and the press – who had convinced themselves that their favourite club was “back on top” – are sweating that possibility more than any other.

The games to come are going to be fierce battles on and off the pitch.

Our enemies are in a cold sweat over what might happen and they are ramping the pressure up. Refs and officials deserve scrutiny, but all of it is coming from decisions in relation to one club; ours.

That is unprecedented, but then these are unprecedented times.

This Celtic side, under this manager, was never supposed to be a success. In their disbelief and shock at what has come to pass they are looking for any explanation or excuse … and the refs are getting the blame.

It is sweetly ironic. It is also nonsense.