James Forrest has backed Craig Gordon after the Hoops keeper could have seen red last night against Alloa in the Betfred Cup.

The Celtic stopper was guilty of a reckless challenge on Greig Spence, which resulted in a yellow but could well have been red.

However, Forrest backed referee Alan Muir who showed some leniency towards the Scotland internationalist.

Read more: Late rally sends Celtic through to semi-final of Betfred CupGlasgow Times:

“I think the referee made the right call regards Craig and we just got on with it," shrugged the goalscorer.

“We had to be patient, work hard and keep going. We could’ve scored in the first minute and after that we had plenty of chances.

“We’ve got through to the next round and that’s the most important thing."

It was a view, inevitably, not shared by Spence who bore the full brunt of the challenge.

Read more: Late rally sends Celtic through to semi-final of Betfred Cup

“He took me out quite aggressively but you don’t want to see people sent off," said the Alloa forward. " It was a bit away from the goal but it was a bad challenge.

“It was a big moment because if he walks then they’re down to 10 men and that gives us a big chance.

“On nights like this we need those decisions going for us but we just had to get on with it. I’m not shouting for anyone to be sent off but I’ve got a cut on my knee but if I’d made that challenge or someone in the middle of the park had made it then it would have been a straight red.

“It’s like a different rule for goalkeepers – they get more protection.”