Honest Mistakes: Week Five
Down to me but finally here are the big calls from the matches involving the likely top two at the end of the season from week five.
Of course, that may not be the case. Although there has never been any suggestion or indeed evidence of cultural predilection within Scottish football governance towards either St Mirren or Motherwell. Nevertheless, if their fine form continues maybe their matches will be part of this analysis!
The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
SPFL Game Week Five
16/09/23 Celtic vs Dundee
Incident 1
Referee Grant Irvine Game Minute 50th Score At Time 0-0
Incident Turnbull goes down on the edge of the box Outcome Free kick to Celtic overturned by VAR to Penalty to Celtic Evidence (14) Celtic 3-0 Dundee | Furuhashi Heads Home To Help Celtic Go Top | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 2:30
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Turnbull taken down by Kerr
Initial on field decision: Freekick to Celtic, over turned by VAR to penalty
Turnbull looks to receive a ball on the edge of the box and gets his body in between the ball and the Dundee defender. Clever play and he draws the foul. In real time most of Turnbull’s body appears to be outside the box and the referee must feel the contact was just outside the area.
However, on review the contact/foul is on Turnbull’s right leg which is half a yard inside the box. And for future reference, even if the contact is on the line this would still constitute being a foul, as the 18-yard box line is classed as being inside and part of the 18 yard area.
Verdict: CORRECT decision to award the penalty rather than free kick.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee Grant Irvine Game Minute 62nd Score At Time 1-0
Incident Kyogo scores for Celtic Outcome Goal to Celtic Evidence (14) Celtic 3-0 Dundee | Furuhashi Heads Home To Help Celtic Go Top | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 3:33
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Kyogo scores for Celtic
Initial on field decision: Goal to Celtic
Kyogo appears to time his run and gets a clear header on goal which he duly dispatches. There is a question of a foul in the build-up on a Dundee midfielder, which for me is not a foul.
Also, the Dundee back line are asking for a possible offside Kyogo when the pass is played forward to him. On review, he times his run perfectly and is played onside by the left central defender’s back foot.
Verdict: CORRECT decision to award the goal
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
16/09/23 St Johnstone vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute 49th Score At Time 0-1
Incident Kane goes down in the box under challenge from Butland Outcome No decision Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - Premiership Highlights 2023/24: 16/09/2023
At 1:00:03
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Kane goes down in box under challenge from Butland
Initial on field decision: No foul given
Kane looks to pounce on a back pass to Butland and they both challenge for the ball. This challenge sees Kane fall to the floor looking for a penalty decision. In real time I felt this was not a penalty and Kane appears to be go ground far too easily.
On review you can see Butland clearly plays the ball first and Kane simply throws himself to the floor after he feels secondary contact from Butland
Verdict: CORRECT decision to not award the penalty
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute 60th Score At Time 0-1
Incident Kane goes down in the box under challenge from Lawrence Outcome No decision Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - Premiership Highlights 2023/24: 16/09/2023
At 1:01:35
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Kane goes down in box under challenge from Lawrence
Initial on field decision: No foul given
Lawrence and Kane tussle from a St Johnstone corner. Kane feels contact on his shoulder from the Rangers defender and again goes to ground quite easily.
My opinion is that the level of contact seen here is acceptable and part of the natural body contact between opposing players competing for the same space. There is not enough to be deemed a clear pull or impediment and I’m satisfied with non-penalty decision.
Verdict: CORRECT decision to not award the penalty
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
Another week where the big calls appear to have been correct. I wonder what (if anything) has changed?
Maybe form is temporary?
We shall see.
No major changes to the SPFL title race in terms of week four impacts on expected points.
The Rangers have 0.63 less points than expected due to the impact of Honest Mistakes.
Celtic lead by four points after five matches.