Diamond says goal decision could cost Dons dear

Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond has hit out at referee Iain Brines claiming his performance at Celtic Park could cost Aberdeen a top three SPL finish.

Diamond had a last-gasp equaliser disallowed as the referee ruled that the defender handled the ball before Barry Nicholson set him up.

"Saying I used my hand is an absolute joke and that sums him up. I thought he had a poor game," he said.

"He goes to his job Monday to Friday and we have to pick up the pieces."

Georgios Samaras had given Celtic the lead in the match from a header on 56 minutes.

And the majority of those at Celtic Park breathed a sigh of relief when referee Brines chalked off Diamond's stoppage time strike.

"I turned round to Barry after it went in and I thought the foul was against him because the ball was close to his hand," said the defender.

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"But he said to me that Brines gave it against me.

"The decision is unbelievable. If that's one of Scotland's top officials, I think we're in trouble."

Diamond believes every point is vital for Jimmy Calderwood's men as they try to keep alive their faint hopes of Uefa Cup football.

"If we are challenging to get into third place and that decision goes against us, we might look back at the end of the season and think that point at Celtic Park did us in," he said.