Chris Sutton breaks from Celtic protocol: 'I never disagree with Martin O'Neill - but he's wrong'

However, he was unable to stick to protocol when it came to assessing the 74-year-old's view of a Celtic penalty claim during the 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, which was secured thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Benjamin Nygren after a Kevin Nisbet penalty had cancelled out Kieran Tierney's early opener for the Hoops.

The victory in their game in hand took Celtic above Rangers into second place in the Premiership and to within five points of leaders Hearts with nine league fixtures remaining.

However, O'Neill felt Celtic should have been awarded a spot-kick late in the first-half when a Sebastian Tounekti cross struck the arm of Aberdeen defender Jack Milne in the box. Referee Nick Walsh was unmoved and Chris Graham on VAR checked the incident but decided there was no need for an onfield review.

O'Neill took umbrage with the verdict of the officials. "I thought it was a handball," he said afterwards. "It looked pretty clear but it wasn't given."

Sutton was on pundit duties for Sky Sports alongside former Rangers striker Kris Boyd and both agreed that O'Neill was in the wrong.

"Not every time it hits a player's arm is it a penalty or a foul," Boyd stated. "He's trying to get it back behind his body. There is absolutely nowhere he can put it unless someone jumps onto the pitch and cuts it off. There's nowhere that hand can go. You have to praise the referee and VAR because not every handball is a free-kick."

Sutton added: "I never disagree with Martin, but I don't think he's right. I hope nobody shows him this!

"His arm is by his side. It's the pace of the ball too. Martin, for once, got that wrong."