Griffiths Bemoans Handball Call

Photo by Jeff Holmes Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was baffled by the blunder he claims cost his side a place in the William Hill Scottish Cup final. The Hoops were leading 1-0 when Inverness defender Josh Meekings appeared to stop a close-range goal-bound header from Griffiths with his hand. But referee Steven McLean and goal-line assistant Alan Muir, who was five yards away, failed to spot the infringement and Inverness went on to win 3-2 after a thrilling 120 minutes at Hampden. Griffiths said: "It's one big decision that has changed the game for us. Everyone will tell you the same. "You would need to ask the referee and the assistant behind the goal whey they thought it wasn't a penalty. "I asked the centre-half during the game if it hit his hand or his face and he said 'hand, 100 per cent'. "We have the best penalty taker in the country in Kris Commons so I have no doubt he would have tucked it away and they are down to 10 men and have a mountain to climb." Meekings admitted he was lucky to be on the park but he felt Caley Thistle were rewarded for their ambition after lining up in a 4-4-2 formation and taking the game to Celtic. The defender said: "It has come off my arm, but he is two yards away from me. I have just gone to throw my body in the way. Unfortunately it has come off my hand but fortunately it hasn't been given. "There was a long way to go and we still had a lot to do. It's always going to be difficult against Celtic so when you get decisions like that it's a bonus. "I thought we played really well, we passed it really well and pressed them a lot better than we did last week when we played them." Meekings, whose side will play Falkirk in the final, added: It's a massive achievement for all of us. It's something that the club has never done before and for it to be this bunch of boys to have taken us there is massive. "It's down to us. We know we believe in each other to go on and win the final. We have to make sure we are ready to go one better."