ALAN Archibald, the Partick Thistle manager, was at a loss last night to explain why referee Andrew Dallas had failed to award his side a last-minute penalty against Nir Bitton after the Israeli appeared to impede Thistle sub Miles Storey in the box.

With the Parkhead side leading courtesy of Olivier Ntcham’s deflected first-half volley, awarding the spot kick would have given the Maryhill outfit a precious chance for an equaliser they would scarcely have merited, but while Archibald said it was foul, he joked that Thistle had no chance of getting an award, not least as they were given one in midweek in the Betfred Cup against St Johnstone.

“It is a foul anywhere else on the pitch, so I don’t know why he has not given it,” said Archibald. “It is a big call because it is the last minute of the game against Celtic but we got a penalty the other night and I don’t think we will get two penalties in four days. We’ve had about three in three years.

“I am past anger,” he added. “I didn’t expect to get it. We are at Partick Thistle, with the small club mentality, I don’t think you expect it in the last minute against Celtic.”

His opposite number Brendan Rodgers said of the incident: “From where I was, it looked as though he [Bitton] has got a nick on the ball.

“But sometimes away from home, you never know. ”

For all Celtic’s dominance, Kris Doolan also spurned a glorious opening, heading over from six yards from a Christie Elliot cross.

But Archibald excused his talisman for the miss.

“I always knew as long as it was 1-0 we would get a chance in the game and we have to take it,” he said. “Kris has barely trained all week, yesterday was the first day he trained. I will give him a bit of leeway this time but he had better get the next one.”