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Dedryck Boyata admits he was speechless at assistant referee Frank Connor’s apology – after the Celtic defender had given him a mouthful.

The Hoops centre-back was stunned when the linesman came into the Parkhead side’s Hampden dressing room after the 4-2 Betfred Cup win over Hibs and held his hands up over the Easter Road men’s second-half penalty.

Boyata was raging after being penalised despite winning the ball off Hibs’ Martin Boyle – and even blasted the assistant after Celts grabbed a crucial goal to make it 3-1.

But the big Belgian said he was impressed the official was man enough to admit his error.

He said: “The linesman came into the dressing room after the game and said, ‘I want to apologise and to say that I made the wrong decision’.

“So fair enough. I wasn’t expecting that. He didn’t have to do it.

“I didn’t celebrate at our third goal with my team-mates, I just pointed my finger in front of his face which I wasn’t supposed to do!

“I was angry but he still came and apologised. I don’t think he was scared – I have an angel face!”

(Image: SNS Group) (Image: SNS)

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Boyata has let the incident slide but says Celtic are absolutely determined to avoid any Premiership slip-ups at Pittodrie tonight.

They face Aberdeen in their fourth game in 11 days while the Dons have had the same amount of time off since facing Hibs on October 14.

The Granite City men are joint top of the table and Boyata admitted Celts must be at their best.

He said: “Aberdeen have quality players. They showed it last season and the season before. They lost Jonny Hayes but they have Ryan Christie and Gary Mackay-Steven, they are very good players.

“Them being in this position is not a surprise, they are playing very well.

“It is a vital game for us because we are on same points. We know how hard it is at Aberdeen but as I have said we can cope with anything.”

Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers admitted his squad is stretched to the limit but insisted they can cope with the intense fixture list.

He said: “You’re always trying to keep stability in the team but I would trust whoever I put in.

“The intensity of the games we play, the demands we put on the players to play the level we want them to play to and the magnitude of the games – they are big matches.”