VAR Wiped Out Høgh's First Celtic Goal in 16 Games, Against the Club He Hat-Tricked

Kasper Høgh's last goal for Celtic came in August, a hat-trick at Kilmarnock on his second appearance for the club. On Sunday, against the same opponent, he finally put the ball in the net again after 13 minutes at Celtic Park, ran to the standing section to celebrate, and then watched referee John Beaton go to the monitor and disallow it. Celtic still won 1-0, but Høgh's run without a goal is now 16 games.

The goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up, Mika Baur's challenge on Greg Kiltie, according to Sky Sports. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher backed the decision on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch on Monday.

Høgh is the club's record signing, an £11 million arrival from Bodø/Glimt in July, per beIN Sports. All three of his Celtic goals came in that one game at Rugby Park, and The Scotsman noted that he still hasn't scored at home.

Sunday was not a bad performance. Minutes after the disallowed goal, he was played through one-on-one and Nico Mantl saved. He shot over from inside the box early in the second half, and a block from MJ Kamson-Kamara stopped what looked like a certain goal, the Belfast Telegraph reported. The Scotsman said he was named man of the match before James Forrest replaced him after 70 minutes, to a warm ovation from the crowd.

Then Celtic got a penalty for a handball by Aaron Tshibola, and Benjamin Nygren's kick was saved by Mantl.

Martin O'Neill was asked whether Høgh should have stayed on to take it.

"We all thought Kasper had got off the mark," the Celtic manager said. "We all thought that for about 35 seconds. I think myself that maybe he would have scored the next one had the first one counted, but he worked exceptionally hard for us."

On the penalty, he was blunt: "Had he still been on the pitch I would not have asked him to take it. He might have missed. As it turned out, we did miss."

O'Neill said Høgh's hold-up play was "much, much better" and that the support from the stands mattered. "If you have the crowd behind you, they feel as if you're working hard, then they'll forgive other things," he said. "It won't last forever, strikers live and die by their goals, but he feels we all believe in him in the dressing room, which is very encouraging."

He also admitted he hadn't seen the Baur incident again. "I have genuinely not seen it back because the little screen we have on the touchline is too small for me," he said. "The lads thought it was touch and go."

Liam Scales scored the winner in the 26th minute, hooking Camilo Durán's cross into the top corner. It was Celtic's ninth straight league win over Kilmarnock, their longest run against them since a 16-game streak ended in April 2007, per beIN Sports, and it took them four points clear of Rangers at the top going into the international break. Kilmarnock are bottom.

The break gives Høgh two weeks without a game. When Celtic return, the number next to his name will still be 16, and the only thing that changes it is a goal that stands.