David Martindale was not happy with referee Nick Walsh as Livingston went down 3-1 at home to Celtic on Sunday.
The Livingston manager felt decisions went against his side for Celtic's first two goals. Celtic took the lead through Daizen Maeda after 17 minutes. The Scottish Premiership leaders doubled their advantage through an own goal by Nicky Devlin shortly after the break.
"The first two goals give us a mountain to climb," Martindale told Sky Sports.
"There are two referee decisions which are disappointing.
"I spoke to the fourth official and I spoke to the linesman who had told Nick about the first one which wasn’t a corner, it was a [goal kick]. So, we expect the [goal kick] then.
"On the second goal, the ball is actually out with Greg Taylor on the left hand side, and Tom Rogic handles it in the middle of the park.
"He actually catches the ball nearly, there’s maybe two handballs there and wee Holty (Jason Holt) stops but he doesn’t give us the foul.
"It’s bounced up off Tam and he’s put it out to the right-hand side and that’s where the cross has come in.
"I think it’s quite an easy decision not make, the ref’s there. We don’t get that one.
"You need a bit of luck and fortune to go on your side, but you need the refereeing decisions to go in your favour as well, and I don’t think we got them at the first two goals."
0-1 | GOAL! ⚽
Celtic take the lead with a 17th minute goal from Maeda! pic.twitter.com/EbfuoP13Cb— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 6, 2022
Despite having misgivings about the referee's decisions, Martindale thought Celtic deserved the win.
"I thought Celtic were clinical and it was a top, top performance on and off the ball," he said.
"It thought they were fantastic in their transitions on and off the ball. That was the Celtic we are more accustomed to watching.
"I'm not standing here saying we deserved any more from the game. I genuinely don't. I think Celtic deserved the three points. The two refereeing decisions don't help. It give us a massive mountain to climb at 2-0."
0-2 | OWN GOAL! ⚽
Celtic double their lead as Devlin turns the ball into his own net pic.twitter.com/5F8eOy9G61— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 6, 2022
See Also: The Celtic Team That Shocked Barca In 2012 - Where Are They Now?
