Giorgos Giakoumakis took a massive risk and was fortunate to avoid giving away a penalty against Kilmarnock; that is the opinion of Dermot Gallagher.

The former Premier League official reckons the striker was "lucky" not to be penalised after bundling over Joe Wright in the Hampden penalty box.

The striker would go on to score Celtic's second goal of the afternoon to end the contest and send Ange Postecoglou's side into the final.

For Gallagher, the incident in the Celtic box should have resulted in a penalty to Kilmarnock.

On Sky Sports Ref Watch, he said: "I think the clue here is the ball, where is the ball?

"There's no ball in the picture, it's still not there, still not there, still not there, there it goes.

"I think he has taken a massive risk and he's got lucky.

"I think it should have been a penalty."

Derek McInnes was adamant his side had been denied a clear penalty after the match.

He said: “Joe Wright’s been man-handled and there’s no way Giakoumakis can get to the ball.

“But he’s come through him, two arms round him…it’s a penalty kick. The referee’s got a brilliant view, I don’t understand why it’s not a penalty.

“What’s the point in me speaking to the referee? Seriously, what is the point? VAR should be speaking to the referee. That’s the conversation that needs to be had – not me after the event, Celtic are through to a final.

“Pre-VAR, post-VAR, that’s a penalty kick. And how we can’t get to the right decision…

“Giakoumakis just gets a bit excitable. He’s clumsy, it’s a striker’s challenge. He stumbles into the back of Joe Wright, with two arms round his waist. It’s a penalty kick.”

Glasgow Times:

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