DAVID GRAY was convinced Hibs should've had a penalty and Paul McGinn blasted John Beaton's 'no control' in the build up to Celtic's Premier Sports Cup final winner.

But former Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher has backed the Scots whistler over the incidents on Sky Sports Ref Watch.

Pundit Michael Stewart insisted Hibs should've had a "stonewall" penalty when Ryan Porteous went down under challenge from Carl Starfelt in the closing minutes.

Hibs coach Gray, with Shaun Maloney appointed boss today, questioned how a foul was awarded in the build-up to Kyogo's winner but no spot-kick was given as Starfelt put his hands on Porteous in the box.

But for Gallagher, it was just a coming together in the box as he backed Beaton over the hotly-contested decision.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Gallagher said: "I think not. It's a coming together and no more than that.

"The defender is strong. You see the forward [Porteous] coming up very, very quickly. I don't think he's convinced it's a penalty either.

"We've already seen Trent Alexander-Arnold put his hands on the back. It's what impact is has."

Hibs ace McGinn branded Beaton "inept" in a scathing interview after the final as he hit out at Celtic's winner.

The defender claimed it wasn't a foul and then insisted he and his team-mates were expecting a substitution to be made before Kyogo stuck the ball in the net.

Again, Gallagher backed Beaton's ruling to allow the goal to stand as he insisted the decision is only a big-talking point through "consequence".

He explained: "This is all about the consequence. The free-kick is given and because the ball is chipped in very, very quickly and the goal results from it, it becomes a big talking point.

"You see free-kicks given like that. It's a free-kick that you see in many, many games.

"The referee is always going to allow them to take it quick if they are in the right place."