Ronny Deila: Celtic won’t see red mist again

The Hoops meet United for a fourth time in a fortnight tomorrow at Celtic Park in a Premiership clash, with six red cards produced in the three previous games.

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes and United’s Ryan McGowan were sent packing during the Hoops’ Scottish Cup replay win on Wednesday.

Boss Deila was scathing over McGowan’s challenge on Liam Henderson, claiming it could have ended his career, and insists the United defender lost his temper.

But Deila, above, has no worries over grudges being carried over to tomorrow afternoon’s clash.

He said: “I’m not concerned about my team. We’re going to play football. I don’t see any problems with discipline for our team.

“I don’t think United were over physical but at the end they lost their temper, especially the full-back, who got a red card. You saw that he was a danger on the pitch. He was angry and in the end he found someone to hit. I’m happy Liam didn’t get injured.”

United assistant Simon Donnelly claimed McGowan’s challenge was no worse than Scott Brown’s in the initial Scottish Cup tie between the sides – and that went unpunished.

But Deila disputed that, saying: “It was not similar. McGowan tackled him from the back and Brown’s was in the middle of the pitch.

“You know McGowan is angry before he does it, so I don’t agree with that.”

Stokes was sent off for elbowing Paul Paton after he reacted to being caught in the face. But Deila accepted his red card, saying: “Stokesy shouldn’t react like he did; it’s not an excuse that you got hit and you are hitting back.

“So we talked about that, but every player makes mistakes at times and gets a penalty for that.”

Deila knows, with so many meetings in quick succession, there was every chance the games could boil over.

He added: “Was this always likely to happen? Maybe. These have been big matches with so much at stake, and two competitive teams with winners in each side.

“It’s always tough when these teams meet. But I don’t think it’s very physical. We need those kind of games in Scotland.”

Meanwhile, Deila hopes Mikael Lustig’s season is not over, even though the Swede – out since last month with an ankle injury – fears he may not play again in this term.

The 28-year-old right-back said: “I have to put this season to one side.

“I’ve been out for six weeks now and the foot is still swollen. 

“I have a stretched ligament on the inside of my foot and bruised the bone on the outside.

“It may take three months before I’m good again. But I have to look on the positive side because I don’t require an operation.

“We’ll see how long it takes, but it’s looks like the season is over.”

But Deila believes he could feature again, saying: “Hopefully he’ll be back after the international break. That is the goal.

“But it’s the same injury as Jason Denayer had and it can be one week or two months. It’s so hard to say.”