Caley Thistle midfielder Ross Draper claims even the Celtic players told him referee Don Robertson got it wrong by refusing to take action against Hoops defender Erik Sviatchenko in yesterday’s 2-2 draw at Caledonian Stadium.
Draper was tripped by the Hoops defender as he raced clear on goal midway through the first half but referee Robertson let play continue with the Hoops adding insult to injury by scoring three minutes after the crucial incident.
Inverness dug deep to score an equaliser in the final minute but Draper was amazed by referee Robertson’s failure to award a foul or punish the Hoops defender.
Draper said: “It was a penalty. We’ve got something out of the game again so we are a little bit happier than we could have been but, having seen the incident back a couple of times, the referee said I was not in control of the ball.
“If that’s his reasoning we have to get on with it. We stuck in and got a point but I’m disappointed we didn’t get the decision.
“If it was outside the box it was a red card and if it is inside the box it is a yellow unless he hasn’t made an attempt to win the ball.
“Regardless, it’s a foul and then up to the referee to punish the player however he wants. It’s 100% a foul and a couple of the Celtic players said it was a foul as well.
“We have to get on with it, no matter how tough to take it is. We got a point and that makes it a little bit easier to take.”
Caley Jags survived a second-half pounding from the champions before nicking a point with their one chance in the second half with Alex Fisher coming off the bench to head the equaliser in the 89th minute.
However, Draper was quick to hail the contribution of goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams for his outstanding second-half display which kept his side in the game.
He said: “Owain was struggling with a groin strain and he should play with an injury every week if he is going to play like that. He was brilliant and I was saying to the lads halfway through the second half just to stick in as at 2-1 we always had a chance.
“In terms of our workrate and the grit and determination we showed we deserved it. We got that bit of luck and our one chance and we took it.”