The ball struck Kasper Hogh's hand in the lead up to Celtic's second goal at Tannadice, but the new handball rules mean the goal stands, according to a jury of three pundits. The incident occurred during Celtic's 4-0 win over Dundee United in the Premier Sports Cup, with the Tangerines boss Jim Goodwin left perplexed after VAR opted not to give his team a penalty.
Handball verdicts on Celtic's Tannadice win
Andy Newport said: "By the new letter of the law the (Camilo) Duran goal was good to go but it just shows what a mess the rule makers have got themselves in with the handball guidelines. No-one seems to know what’s what anymore, as shown by the Falkirk incident a couple weeks back. The (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain claim was above the t-shirt line so no penalty."
Scott McDermott added: "The rules state that Duran's goal should stand. But how Willie Collum can say it doesn't compare to Falkirk's last week is baffling. They're almost identical and the inconsistency is driving fans crazy. Celtic got lucky with Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball at the other end."
Ryan McDonald concluded: "The ball clearly struck (Kasper) Hogh's hand but new rules state that accidental handball before a teammate scores is no longer an offence. The Oxlade-Chamberlain appeals were weak as it hit his shoulder. No penalty for me."
Kilmarnock's defensive woes and Motherwell's cup exit
Kilmarnock have now shipped 11 goals in their last three games, prompting questions over whether Neil McCann should be worried. Andy Newport said: "Yes and no. Some of the goals they’ve conceded so far have been shocking but I’ve been impressed by the way Killie pop the ball about. If they can tighten up and cut out the individual errors, I reckon they’ve got the attacking game to do well."
Scott McDermott said: "Not overly. He's the type of manager who will identify a problem and fix it. Going forward, Killie look excellent which is a real positive. Of course, they have to tighten up and he could probably do with another defender in before the window closes." Ryan McDonald said: "Don't say that or you might get an earful like BBC's Jonathan Sutherland. Of course it should be a concern. If they keep leaking goals then they'll be dragged into a relegation scrap this season. That's the bottom line."
Motherwell crashed out of the cup after a shock loss to Stenhousemuir, and the jury assessed whether that could stunt their impressive start under Alfred Johansson. Andy Newport said: "It's a set-back certainly as Well looked to have seamlessly switched from the Jens Berthel Askou era into the new regime under the Swede. But it's also early days and even last year's team suffered the odd hiccup before hitting top form. If they can shake this one off it doesn't need to cause a tailspin."
Scott McDermott said: "There's no doubt it's a big blow for him. He's enjoyed a really positive start and would have hoped for a deep cup run. But it won't detract from how M'well play or go about their business. It's important they don't let it de-rail their progress." Ryan McDonald said: "It's another missed opportunity to go far in a cup competition. Johansson showed naivety by throwing in the kids and making eight changes. It's a sickener for the fans but I don't think it'll have any impact on their Premiership or European form."
Nico Raskin's Rangers future
Nico Raskin wore the captain's armband, but will he be at Rangers come the end of the window? Andy Newport said: "Only if Rangers receive the kind of bids they deem acceptable. Andrew Cavenagh has already made clear the club they are under no pressure to sell. Right now, however, there's no offer to even talk about - but I expect that change once we get to the final few days of the window."
Scott McDermott said: "No. It's difficult to imagine that as the clock ticks down on the transfer window and clubs in England and Europe start to panic that they won't make bids for the Belgian, especially given his World Cup displays. If Arne Engels can go for £22 million to West Ham, Rangers will be looking for a similar fee." Ryan McDonald said: "Raskin has been far too hit and miss at Ibrox. Gers would want to cash now before he enters the final 18 months of his deal but talk of £20m is fantasy. A parting of ways is the best outcome but the problem is no bids have dropped."
