Butcher hits out as Celtic march on in Scottish Cup
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Richie Foran is felled by Glenn Loovans for the penalty.
CALEY Thistle went down fighting in Wednesday's Scottish Cup quarter-final in Inverness as a Joe Ledley double cancelled out Adam Rooney's spot kick.
The 2-1 victory for the Hoops sends them into a semi showdown with Aberdeen next month at Hampden.
ICT boss Terry Butcher said afterwards he felt aggrieved that Celtic had been allowed to carry on with 10 men after conceding the 43 minute penalty.
Neither ref Mike Tumlity, nor his assistant Stuart Macaulay, knew for certain which player brought down Richie Foran, so the guilty player – Glenn Loovens – avoided a red card.
Butcher also hinted that the free-kick which set up the winner was awarded by Tumilty under pressure from the Celtic fans, who appealed for it at the South Stand end. He claimed that decision would never have been given at the opposite end of the pitch.
This was the point in the tie when Butcher left his seat in the stand where he’d watched the action, while his opposite number Neil Lennon was seated there as part of his touchline ban.
These sides had met three times in the Scottish Cup before this week, with the Highlanders famously going ballistic in the 3-1 win in 2000 and beating Martin O'Neill's team in Inverness 1-0 three years later.
Celtic recorded a stunning comeback in 2007 when their then top hitman Kenny Miller sunk Charlie Christie’s side in a late sickener.
ICT were boosted on Wednesday by the return of Irish wingers Aaron Doran and Jonny Hayes from injury, with both making it to the bench.
Celtic were without suspended duo skipper Scott Brown and full-back Mark Wilson, but Gary Hooper was back in the starting 11 after a knee injury and Loovens came in for his first game this year.
Hoops defender Daniel Masjstorovic was another missing due to a fractured foot.
Lennon's side were the first to threaten when Loovens early header flew over the bar from a Kris Commons corner.
Celtic looked slick and sharp and ICT goalkeeper Ryan Esson had to be alert to grasp the ball from the head of stand-in skipper Georgios Samaras before Commons drilled high over when he attacked the box.
On 22 minutes, Inverness CT won possession from a Charlie Mulgrew slip-up and Shane Sutherland's cut-back for Richie Foran was volleyed across the face of goal and cleared to safety.
Celtic responded moments later when Emilio Izaguirre whipped in a cross from the left and Samaras flashed a header wide.
Hooper then headed goalwards, but Richie Foran was on hand to sweep the ball away as the visitors cranked up the pressure.
The tie took a twist three minutes before the break when ICT won the penalty.
Russell Duncan played an excellent ball through for Foran, who was tripped by Loovens. Tumility consulted with his assistant before awarding it, but no player was booked or sent off.
Calm as you like, up stepped Caley Thistle top scorer Rooney and he slotted the ball low beyond Fraser Forster into the net.
However, just when it seemed like ICT were heading in at half-time in front, Celtic quickly levelled.
Izaguirre's low delivery broke to Welshman Ledley in the box and he turned before steering an angled drive past Esson into the net.
So, the high hopes of the Caley Jags were swiftly deflated.
However, they were still right in this encounter, with another 45 minutes to savour.
Both sides were keen to attack after the interval and a great save from Forster on 56 minutes denied Shane Sutherland who latched on to a knock down by Foran from a free-kick into the box to send a fierce drive on target.
Eight minutes later, Esson was at full stretch as he watched a powerful Commons free-kick from the right edge of the box whizz wide of the left post.
It was another set-piece, this time from the left, which gave Celtic the advantage.
Ki Sung Yeung swung in the hotly-disputed free-kick from near the corner flag and Ledley got there first to divert the ball past Esson into the net.
Caley Thistle tried to hit back in the next move and Mulgrew almost put through his own net when Foran’s cross caused panic.
Celtic nearly added the gloss to the scoreline with five minutes to go, but Esson brilliantly tipped a dipping drive from Hooper over the bar.
Despite late Caley Jags pressure, it was Celtic who sealed that semi-final slot against Aberdeen, who beat St Mirren 2-1.
Though gutted to crash out like this, Butcher said he was proud of his players and they now get set for Saturday’s SPL trip to Dundee United, who moved into fourth place on Wednesday with a 2-0 win against Hearts.
Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Duff, Cox, Duncan, Foran, Rooney, Munro, Ross (Doran 83), Sutherland (Hayes 73), Hogg. Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Innes, MacDonald.
Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre, Juarez, Samaras, Commons (Forrest 65), Ledley, Yueng, Mulgrew, Loovens, Kayal, Hooper. Subs not used: Zaluska (GK), Rogne, McCourt, Stokes.
Referee: Mike Tumillty.
Attendance: 6,064.
