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Martin O’Neill has accused Rangers of making excuses on the back of Sunday’s stormy Old Firm thriller, writes Michael Gannon in Denmark But the Celtic stand-in boss admitted he agrees with the Ibrox club that Auston Trusty was a lucky Bhoy not to see red. Gers were left fuming at ref Nick Walsh and the Hampden VAR officials for failing to send the defender packing for kicking out at keeper Jack Butland’s head . But O’Neill is also convinced Rangers should not have been given a penalty kick lifeline after Tony Ralston’s controversial handball call. The fall out over the flash points has rumbled on all week and crashed into the build up to tomorrow/tonight’s Europa League clash with Midtjylland in Denmark. And O’Neill said: “I’m delighted to be here and if you said to me I’ve got one more win over Rangers, well that’s the best news in the world…for God’s sake, take it on. “Whatever sort of excuses they make, two things… “I don’t think it was a penalty and I think Trusty was lucky to stay on the field, having seen those things back. “So, that’s my points. But it’s still one of the great fixtures in European football, if not the world. “We won. Watching it back, sometimes there’s things you miss. We had awesome, really great chances. “Rangers did great with 10 men in the second half of the game. But, we did create some chances.” O’Neill is determined to build on his unbeaten start to his caretaker role –amid support growing for the 73-year-old to stick around longer. Celts are searching for a permanent gaffer but Craig Bellamy has cooled talk he’s ready to jump ship from Wales. O’Neill insisted it’s business as usual for him until the Hoops board decide otherwise. He said: “No I haven’t (spoken to the boar). I’m totally aware that the results dictate everything, everything. “Just let’s turn the clock back and we’d lost to Rangers, then I think the hunt for the manager, which is on at this minute, becomes intensified. But if you get a result, it’s a bit of respite. “And if you think about it now, the international break coming up in a fortnight, it’s a fair length of time for the board to be at least on the search for someone. “I don’t know if they made their minds up, I haven’t been involved in any of that conversation.” O’Neill has given Celts a jolt – and proved he can still cut it in the dugout. He said: “Well, listen, I’m big headed enough to think I’ve always had it, had a big impact on things - even when I’ve never really had it all! “No, all sorts of things go through your head. “But I’m delighted no one stuck a heart monitor on me on the touchline, otherwise the doctor would not have allowed me to participate in another game. “So that doesn’t change. “Sometimes it’s quite good to know you still have a nervous excitement about football. “And the answer is, genuinely, I don’t know.” O’Neill has made a short term impact but he is aware of the demands of the job at the age of 73. He said: “If you’re talking about, for instance, the fixture list coming up, there’s no respite between now and right through to virtually late February. “So you think, every week and midweek. That’s really challenging and it’s challenging for young men at the end of the day. “So that I don’t know. “The consideration will come from the board in that sense. If you don’t win the football matches, then it’s an easier decision for the board to make. “And I think even if you did win some football matches the board would still be thinking of a younger man stepping into the job. “That would be my view.” Wales boss Bellamy is among the frontrunners but the former Hoops loan star distanced himself from the role. He said: “I can understand the links because I played there. I’m coaching, so I definitely understand the links. “But to me, I love what I’m doing at the present moment. I have to be honest. “I’m completely focused on what’s set to come - there’s going to be a play-off in March, we know that. “And to me, that’s all I’m focused on. I couldn’t want for anything more than what I have at this present moment. That’s where it lies with me. It isn’t on my radar and it won’t be on my radar.”
