Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes it was the wrong decision for Austin Trusty to be sent off following an on-field review.

The American defender was initially given a yellow card by referee Steven McLean following his challenge on Landry Kabore in Celtic’s 2-2 draw away to Hearts, but VAR official John Beaton recommended an on-field turnover of decision and sent McLean to the monitor.

The yellow was upgraded to a red, with Trusty deemed to be the last man. However, O’Neill disagrees with the need for VAR to interfere.

He said: “I do have an argument with the red card.

“The referee has given a yellow card and he’s sent over, obviously VAR re-referee the game, and it is no more a red card than a blue card – which don’t exist I don’t think.

“First of all, the ball is going away from goal, so the player has to get hold of that and control it.

“And secondly, more importantly, is that we’ve got someone in the cover. That’s what the referee saw in the first place, and it puts you under severe pressure in the last twenty odd minutes.”

Trusty saw red when the score was at 2-1, with Hearts forward Claudio Braga netting the all important equaliser in the 87th minute. Defeat would have seen Celtic fall nine points behind the league leaders, and O’Neill believes a point a piece was an honest outcome.

“They [Hearts] might’ve had the opportunity with us down to ten men and having played on Thursday night, there might have been that chance [of a Hearts win],

“But in the overall take of the game, a draw probably is a fair result.”

Celtic’s injury list grew by one name as Kieran Tierney was substituted off a moment before Trusty’s sending off. O’Neill is unaware of the extent of it just yet, and in unsure if he will make the Europa League contest fixture with FC Utrecht.

“I’ll have another look. He [Tierney] is pretty sore, I’ll see how he is for Thursday.”

When asked who would step in to replace him with Marcelo Saracchi also unavailable, O’Neill responded:

“Me, coming in there, comeback! We will probably have to just shift somebody over.”

Celtic face FC Utrecht of the Eredevisie on Thursday night, knowing a win guarantees them a place in the next round of the Europa League, before turning their attention back to the league with the visit of Falkirk on Sunday.