Chris Sutton declares love for 'petty' Lawrence Shankland over Arne Engels Celtic penalty taunt

Shankland shouts at Engels before Celtic new boy slots home from spot against Hearts
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Chris Sutton has admitted he is a fan of the mind-games Lawrence Shankland tried on Arne Engels as he stepped up to take Celtic's penalty in the weekend win over Hearts.

The big money summer recruit was handed the ball and got up and running as the Hoops ran out 2-0 winners. Post-match Brendan Rodgers confirmed Reo Hatate is the number one choice from 12-yards with Engels the second pick but the midfielder handed over the ball in a move that didn't annoy the Parkhead gaffer. Following the match, footage emerged of Hearts and Scotland striker Shankland trying in vain to put off the ice-cool Belgium cap as he shouted in his ear seconds before stepping up to face Craig Gordon. Celtic TV's unique angle picked up the Jambos' star man shouting 'big pressure' with another, believed to be Craig Halkett' calling out '£10m? aye right'.

Speaking on his 'It's all Kicking off' podcast, Sutton was asked for his moment of the weekend and opted to go for the incident in Glasgow's east end. He explained to listeners his version of events saying: "My moment of the weekend. Celtic won at the weekend and their first goal scorer was Arne Engels from the penalty spot. I love the sort of pettiness over in football.

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"Engels - the big new signing for Celtic for £10million. As he is getting ready to take the penalty [Lawrence] Shankland is screaming at Engels '£10million, £10m, big pressure, high right and all that'. Engels just strolls up and sends Craig Gordon the wrong way. Fair play to him. I wonder if he understood Scottish first and foremost. I sort of quite like what Lawrence Shankland was doing anyway. But it didn't phase Engels at all."

Speaking after the game about the penalty situation, Rodgers explained: "Reo was the number one taker. That's the selflessness of Reo. The number two taker was Arne. They practiced yesterday. Both their levels were high. Arne stuck it away really well. A good performance by him."

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