McCann accused officials of ‘making it up’ as they go along – but Sutton reckons Duncan Nicolson was correct
07:18, 16 Feb 2026Updated 16:32, 16 Feb 2026
Chris Sutton on Sky Sports(Image: SNS Group)
Chris Sutton says ref Duncan Nicolson was right to add on seven minutes at the end of Celtic‘s clash with Kilmarnock – and anyone complaining about it is showing signs of JEALOUSY.
The Hoops came back from 2-0 down to win at Rugby Park on Sunday with Julian Araujo sparking bedlam when he hammered in the winner at the back post deep into added time. His strike came in the seventh of seven additional minutes – and ended up being crucial for Celtic, who kept pace with Rangers and gained points on Hearts after the Ibrox side’s 4-2 win later on Sunday.
The amount of time tacked on sparked a furious rant from Neil McCann who accused the officials of ‘making it up’ as they go along. But Sutton points to the lengthy injury stoppages, with Brad Lyons, Dom Thompson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all down in the second half. There were also five breaks in play for substitutions in the second 45.
On social media shortly after the game, Sutton – who a former Old Firm rival and Sky Sports sidekick of McCann’s – said: “For all the whinging about the seven minutes added on at Kilmarnock, seven minutes was right in truth with the lengthy stoppages for Lyons and Thompson and all the subs. Sour grapes springs to mind, and jealousy…”
It comes after a raging McCann said in his post-match press conference: “I’m angry, of course I am. I’m so disappointed because I truly believe that we deserved something from the game. I’m not quite sure where they get seven minutes from. They seem to just make that up these days. But, nonetheless, we still have to manage that and that’s what I’m most angry about.
“I’d have been disappointed coming off with a point, to be honest. But the anger comes from not seeing that out and getting at least a point.
“Clearly Celtic are going to come at us in the second half. It’s taken a bit of brilliance from [Sebastian] Tounekti to get them back into the game. The second goal, I mean it’s so disappointing.
“We lost three goals against St Mirren where it was just second balls bouncing in the box and we didn’t deal with it. But the last one is the sorest, clearly, because it’s right at the end of the game and there’s a minute left.
Neil McCann(Image: SNS Group)
“It’s a waste of time talking to (the referee) and asking him where it comes from. As I said, I don’t know how they get to that.
“I’d love to know. I can’t work out. I think John-Jules was maybe a couple of minutes and he came off. Dom Thompson was down with his head, maybe one and a half, two minutes. I don’t know where he gets seven from. I don’t know.”