CELTIC interim manager John Kennedy has criticised referee Nick Walsh for his decision to send off Callum McGregor as Rangers coasted to a 4-1 Old Firm victory at Ibrox.

McGregor was ordered off in the first half of the match, picking up a second booking for a foul on Glen Kamara in the move that eventually led to Kemar Roofe opening the scoring for the hosts.

It was the first booking that McGregor received for an earlier foul on Ryan Kent though that had Kennedy fuming, and he said that Walsh’s call had ultimately turned the game in Rangers’ favour.

“It’s a sore one,” Kennedy said. “When you go down to 10 men it puts you on the back foot, but then again, we still managed to create within that.

“Rangers were more clinical once again, but the sending off is the big point in the game.

“It was the turning point, and it is one of those where ok, the second tackle he’s on a yellow, he goes to ground and [gets] the red card, that’s not a problem.

“It’s the first one. The yellow card. So I asked the referee at half-time; ‘What did you book McGregor for?’. And he said it was a reckless tackle.

“Now, I don’t see any reckless tackle. He’s on his feet, he’s made a genuine attempt for the ball and Kent has managed to nick it before him. So, there’s nothing reckless in it.

“There’s another incident on the far side when (Odsonne) Edouard is breaking through into the final third, gets taken down with a slide tackle, and we get a free-kick and that’s it.

“So, there’s no consistency there, and that’s what I’m most disappointed with.

“Red cards can happen, but at least make the right calls.”

Kennedy was pleased with the application of his men after going a man down despite the hefty defeat, and said that yet again, it was their ongoing lack of a clinical edge in both areas that had cost them dearly.

“What we knew was that we just had to defend well, be solid and not open ourselves up too much, don’t let Rangers through us too easily,” he said. “Try to keep the ball down the sides and force them to play crosses.

“When we had the ball we had to utilise our bravery and our ability on the ball, and we did that. In terms of possession and building the ball up the pitch, we did that, and whether you have 10 men or 11 men, you can still do that.

“We had to be brave and take chances at times, but that allowed us to get up the pitch and attack with good enough numbers to make chances.

“We did that, but again, Rangers were decisive in the box and we weren’t.

“It didn’t quite fall into place today. I’m disappointed with the result, massively.

“But, as you can see, I’m disappointed with the sending off first of all.”