FORMER Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher reckons Motherwell should have had a penalty against Celtic on Saturday after a handball by Boli Bolingoli.

The Hoops full-back connected with the ball on his arm as Well striker Kevin van Veen attempted to control the ball.

The frontman protested as referee Chris Fordyce waved play on, but Gallagher reckons it could have easily been a spotkick.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think it's handball by Bolingoli.

"In fairness to the referee, if you see van Veen there he completely obscures the referee's view. He's behind van Veen so he doesn't see it and he can't give it."

Motherwell did not manage a shot on target while Celtic had seven – and 18 efforts in total.

But home boss Graham Alexander took plenty of encouragement from his side’s organisation.

Alexander felt Motherwell should have had a free-kick for a foul from Kyogo Furuhashi on Callum Slattery just before Jota’s 17th-minute opener and were denied a “blatant” penalty when Boli Bolingoli handled at 2-0.

And he felt the game could have been different if those key moments had gone for his team.

He added on Motherwell’s Twitter video: “They try to move you all over the place and drag you all over. I thought the discipline from the players was excellent.

“They had the ball but it was where we wanted them to have it and they didn’t penetrate the areas that hurt us. I can’t remember Liam Kelly making many saves.

“We just needed to get on the end of a few of those balls – certainly in the first half – that flashed across their goal at 0-0.

“But if we defend and have that discipline and focus in all our other games we know the quality we have will help us win points.”