Derek McInnes admitted his frustration boiled over after Celtic’s opener in the 2-2 draw with Hearts, revealing that a member of the Hoops coaching staff got under his skin during the celebrations for Benjamin Nygren’s goal.
The Hearts manager said someone from the Celtic bench irritated him in the aftermath of the strike, although he chose not to name who it was. That reaction raised a few eyebrows, particularly given McInnes’ own pre-match behaviour, when he appeared to try to unsettle Celtic players by staring them down during their warm-up.
While McInnes kept the identity of the coach to himself, Celtic’s Unique Angle footage has seemingly cleared up the mystery, and the answer is unlikely to shock many supporters.
Behind-the-scenes clips from the club’s in-house coverage show Mark Fotheringham as the figure who caught McInnes’ attention. Unique Angle regularly offers moments that do not make it into standard broadcasts, and this instance was no different, highlighting the exchange that left the Hearts boss irritated.
McInnes later attempted to downplay the incident by questioning the coach’s experience, but the footage suggests the reaction said more about the Hearts manager than anyone else. For someone with McInnes’ time in the game, being riled by a goal celebration only added to the narrative.
Fotheringham, meanwhile, has quickly made his mark since joining Celtic’s backroom team. Beyond winding up opposing benches, he has earned praise for his work with the squad and his strong relationship with captain Callum McGregor, which he has spoken about openly.
Known for his energy on the touchline, Fotheringham has brought an extra spark to the dugout, something the players appear to respond to positively. His presence has added another layer to Celtic’s matchday edge.
As for McInnes, the episode may prompt some self-reflection. Allowing a coach he publicly labelled inexperienced to provoke such a reaction suggests the pressure of the title race could be starting to take its toll at Tynecastle.