Alistair Johnston calls out referee who 'wanted' to send him off as Celtic star get honest over Rangers frustration

The defender was left irked by one match official after suffering a controversial defeat

Gutted Alistair Johnston reckons that referee Saíd Martinez "wanted" to send him off during Canada's controversial defeat to Mexico.

But the right-back insists The Canucks will come through their tough spell - just like he is planning to do with Celtic when he returns to Scottish Premiership action.

Before the league went into cold storage for the international break, Rangers earned derby day bragging rights at Celtic Park.

Celtic also suffered a rare domestic defeat to Hibs last month off the back of the Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich - with Johnston admitting the Hoops are "are going through that patch."

Things didn't go to plan for Canada in their Nations League semi-final clash with Mexico as Johnston - who received a first-half booking - and Co slumped to a 2-0 loss.

Fuming boss Marsch took aim at whistler Martinez after the game - claiming a "cultural aspect of Mexican football where they look to go down easily and manage to get yellow cards" was allowed to thrive.

Speaking to One Soccer, Johnston said: "It has been a great season for me, I don't think there is any doubts about that, in terms of the number of matches I've played, some of the matches that I have played at the very highest level against Bayern Munich - seeing my team match up with them, it does bring a lot of pride to myself and my family back home, realising that I do belong on that field with them (in the Champions League).

"But, there has obviously been some ups and downs - it's not always perfect. I have done a good job as I have gotten older to not really get caught up in the highs and the lows.

"Just try and keep it steady - it's not as good as you think and it's not as bad as you think.

'So, even when the results aren't as good as you would necessarily like - and it has been exactly that with Celtic over the last month.

"It hasn't been as easy as the start of the season. We are going through that patch and it's the same with the national team.

"It's not always going to be easy, the ref in that first half felt like he wanted to send me off at any possible moment but you just have to get through that.

"That is something I have learned and matured on the pitch, and off the pitch, in dealing with that kind of stuff.

"So when I sit back and get a break, and kind of look back on the year, I do think it will be my most successful calendar year of professional football and i am pretty proud of that."