KASPER SCHMEICHEL was fortunate not to break his jaw at Rugby Park.
That’s the opinion of Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock who has branded Kilmarnock star Liam Donnelly “really naughty” for his lash out on the Celtic goalkeeper during the 2-0 defeat on Sunday.
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It was a game full of flashpoints in Ayrshire as Brendan Rodgers’ side battled Derek McInnes’ men to regain top spot in the Premiership following Aberdeen‘s 4-1 win over Dundee on Saturday.
Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn both scored to seal the away win for the Hoops but the game could have gone very differently if Schmeichel wasn’t on top form.
The Danish veteran denied the hosts on a number of occasions, with Killie having six shots on target throughout the clash.
But although it was perhaps the 38-year-old’s best game in a Celtic jersey to date, it wasn’t actually his saves that was the talking point at full-time.
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In fact it was the incident involving him and Donnelly in the second half.
The Killie midfielder appeared to raise an elbow towards the goalie in the second half when putting his opponent under pressure when he had the ball at his feet.
Although he didn’t make contact with the Dane’s head, Schmeichel was fuming with Donnelly and a yellow card was dished out to the player for the incident.
Addressing the incident on social media, retired SFA referee Bobby Madden claimed whistler Nick Walsh made the right call with his intervention.
And speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher also claimed it was the correct outcome and didn’t warrant a red.
However, former Liverpool, Blackburn and Aston Villa full-back didn’t see eye-to-eye with the former referees.
He reckons Donnelly should have been given a red because of the player’s intent in the challenge.
He believes if the midfielder made contact then Schmeichel would have been knocked out with a potential broken jaw.
Giving his verdict, he said: “That’s intent to smash him across the face. That’s why Kasper Schmeichel is so angry.
“I think that’s really naughty because he knows exactly what he’s trying to do.
“If he’s any taller then he’s catching Kasper across the face. He knocks him out and probably breaks his jaw with the speed he is moving.”
Gallagher said: “I thought the referee handled it very well. I was watching the game live and thought he could (be sent off).
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“He knows what he’s doing but he doesn’t throw an elbow, it’s more of a forearm and it’s a yellow card.”
Another huge moment in the clash involved Reo Hatate.
Earlier in the match, the Japan international caught Killie ace Donnelly with studs on his shin.
Similar to the later incident, only a yellow card was dished out following a lengthy VAR review.
Madden claimed Walsh and the VAR team were WRONG with that decision as he believed it warranted a red.
But former Premier League whistler Gallagher reckons it would have been harsh to send off the midfielder, and the yellow was indeed the correct call.
I think it looks worse thatn it is.
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He said: “I think it looks worse than it is. He catches him but I don;t think he has any intent.
“He starts pulling out as well so by pulling out, his foot comes up and I think the referee had the best view. It’s not nice, but yellow card for me.”
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