CELTIC head to the City of Discovery this evening looking to unearth a distraction that will allow them to move on from Sunday's controversy against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Like stagnant cigar smoke, the aftermath of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final continues to hog the air, clinging resolutely to the fabric of the Scottish football week.

Josh Meekings was cited by the SFA yesterday for the handball which prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity - a challenge that swiftly had the Highland club getting on the blower to their lawyers - while former Celts have been quick to wade into the argument.

Yet, as the fallout rages all around, a sunny Lennoxtown provided a comfortable haven from the aftermath of the clash.

Celtic's players finished a training match in jocular fashion and, while Ronny Deila couldn't face speaking to the assembled media - "he's spoken enough to you guys" joked assistant John Collins, the mantra from the playing side of things is that it is business as usual this evening against Dundee at Dens Park.

And while few would expect anything other than Celtic now to canter over the finish line on league duty, there is a danger that any slip-ups would give Aberdeen significant encouragement going into the final furlong of the campaign, making it more anxious than perhaps it needs to be.

"I think the boys are professionals. Everybody will keep talking about it for a few more days, but the important thing is that we move on.

"We had a terrific session today, it was important the boys got back out on the grass again and were re-focused and ready for a big game at Dundee," insisted Collins. "We've been playing well and we want to win the league, sooner rather than later.

"We've got to think about one thing, the next game. It has gone. We move on. It is painful because it was a massive, key moment in the season. If the correct decision had been given it was game over, and we would have been in the final.

"That's a fact, there was no coming back if the right decision was given, but it wasn't."

And Collins is also mindful of the fact the Dens Park side will look to capitalise on any fragility that Celtic might display in the aftermath of what has been a mentally draining week.

"I'm sure that will be their thoughts - Celtic will be hurting and the pressure is on them now," said Collins. "Can we try and knock them off their stride?"

The former Scotland internationalist has also revealed that he would love to see the introduction of video technology that would allow ambiguous penalty-box incidents to be cleared swiftly.

John Fleming, head of referee development at the SFA, revealed yesterday that the use of such technology will be discussed in London next week at a meeting with the game's governing body, and Collins would welcome its implementation.

"In the box, I'm for video evidence 100 per cent," he said. "Why? It helps the referee, it helps managers and it helps players.

"What are the two words we keep hearing? Fair play. It would become fairer because you have the camera. For me it's a no-brainer.

"I don't know what it will take for video evidence to be introduced. That's for the governing body to decide. But I think it would be better for football going forward, especially with modern technology.

"In the old days, it would have taken time, but now with the new cameras, you'd get a decision in five seconds."

Collins was also defensive of Celtic's decision to write to the SFA to seek an explanation for Sunday's decision.

The club have been criticised for making the statement public, but the assistant coach believes they had a duty to their own support to ask the question.

"I think a lot of clubs write and ask for answers, I don't think there is a problem with just asking a question and wanting clarification," he said. "If he never saw it he never saw it, and that's it. I'm not saying there is suspicion, but it's a decision that should have been given.

"The only person you can ask the question to is the referee and the other officials. I can't answer that question. I saw that it was a handball. And once everyone's seen it on television it is a blatant handball.

"The referee has either never seen or it or his linesman's never seen it and the guy behind the goal's never seen it. You've got to ask that question, haven't you.

"I think there's no doubt that that's a fact. Some months you get the decisions, some you don't. I wouldn't disagree with that.

"If the referee never saw it we have to take his word for it, haven't we? If he's not seen it he can't give it."

The decision will rankle with Celtic because of the size of the stakes on Sunday afternoon. To be within touching distance of a Treble, a feat as rare as a sunny Glasgow fair fortnight, and have those ambitions disintegrate, is galling.

And while Collins was still raw from the afternoon - it perhaps wasn't the wisest of cracks from John Hughes to text his buddy the day after the game - he was reluctant to point a finger of blame at the standard of refereeing as a whole.

"I don't want to criticise or generalise on referees," he said. "They make mistakes. The top ones make less mistakes, but they're human.

"If the referee didn't see it then we have to take his word for it. If he didn't see it, he didn't see it, and he can't give it."