Despite his recent controversies David Dickinson finds himself involved with Danny Rohl’s side again as they take on Livingston on Sunday.
The man from the Prince of Wales Lodge in Renfrew has suddenly found himself making more appearances than some of Russell Martin’s summer signings.
Dickinson will be on VAR duty at Livingston as Ryan Lee gets the chance to referee on the plastic pitch.
COLLUM SETTING UP REF TEAMS
Lee recently took charge of the Celtic v Dundee Scottish Cup tie with Dickinson on VAR duty. For good measure Douglas Ross who was on duty that night will be at Livingston. No doubt the former Scottish Tory leader will be familiar with the vile chants of the away support.
Lee and Dickinson both decided to award Celtic a free kick outside the penalty box when Tomas Cvancara was fouled late in the first half. A penalty should have been awarded.
When Kieran Tierney took a kick to his face that ended his involvement they agreed that a yellow card was enough. Tierney suffered a broken bone in his nose.
Since the start of December Dickinson has never been faraway from matches involving Rohl’s team. Most of the matches have involved penalty controversies, all going in one direction.
Clearly Willie Collum is impressed by Dickinson’s performances in these matches. It seems like the Head of Refereeing is going out of his way to involve Dickinson with his favourite club.
With 14 referees used in the Premiership so far this season it is overkill to have the same referee in charge of one club four times in two months.
DECEMBER 3, DUNDEE UNITED 2-2
With United leading 2-1 Manny Fernandez raised his right arm to control a long throw-in. Dickinson waved play on.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time he pointed to the penalty spot when Max Aaron’s fell to the ground. Nedim Bajrami scored with a penalty to secure a point.
DECEMBER 27, MOTHERWELL 1-0
Motherwell were trailing 1-0 going into the closing minutes Lukas Fadinger broke into the penalty box. As he darted past Fernandez the defender stuck out his left leg to bring the move to a halt.
Dickinson had a clear view, he allowed play to continue, Greg Aitken on VAR has similar viewpoints and was never going to correct his brother in arms. The Dickinson and Aitken families both enjoyed a merry Christmas
JANUARY 11, ABERDEEN 2-0
Aberdeen were horrendous. They were lucky to be still in the match at half time. Without a manager they went into the game in the bottom half of the SPFL and on the back of three successive defeats.
Halfway through the second half they were forcing a few corners, an equaliser wasn’t unthinkable.
And then Djeidi Gassama decided to jump into the air. At Sheffield Wednesday last year he would have risked a booking. At Pittodrie he was guaranteed a penalty. Tavpen did what Tavpen does
FEBRUARY 4, KILMARNOCK 5-1
Three minutes into the match and a through ball is played into the Kilmarnock penalty box. Dom Thompson is caught out as Gassama runs in behind him. An awkward challenge goes in. Dickinson can’t wait. Not only a penalty but a red card for the defender, a real rarity under the current rules.
At Ibrox Kilmarnock were a goal down and down to 10 men with 86 minutes left to play.
Early in the second half the already booked James Tavernier body checks the run of Tyreece John-Jules. No action is taken by Dickinson, even Neil McCann was forced into commenting on that non decision.
DICKINSON DIVIDEND?
With Dickinson on VAR duty for Rohl’s side on Sunday it makes it less likely, but not impossible that he will be involved in their next match- against Celtic on March 1.
Dickinson has twice been the Fourth Official for the Glasgow Derby with friends and family hoping that he soon gets ‘the big one’.
There is of course a Scottish Cup tie the following weekend with Collum planning ahead over which officials he appoints for the double header.
So far this season Don Robertson, Nick Walsh and Steven McLean have refereed the three Derby matches.
Generally the referee for the Derby match is left out of the rota the previous weekend. That gives them extra time to prepare and avoids going into the fixture with a fresh controversy in mind.
Steven McLean and John Beaton are involved on Saturday, Beaton for the first time since January 16 when he got injured during the Falkirk v Celtic match.
Kevin Clancy is the only referee with experience of the Glasgow Derby that isn’t in action this weekend. It is almost three years since he refereed a Glasgow Derby which suggests that he has dropped out of favour.
Martin O’Neill, the Celtic players and fans know what to expect from the match officials in both Ibrox matches.
As a side note Collum and Gordon Duncan haven’t produced a VAR Review show since January 16.
