St Johnstone captain Jason Kerr believes his fellow centre-back Liam Gordon was wrongly penalised for Hibs’ controversial stoppage time weekend winner.
John Beaton awarded a spot-kick, converted by Stevie Mallan, deeming Gordon to have pushed Ryan Porteous in the back.
But according to Kerr, the referee made a mistake that was a costly one for the Perth side.
“I’m a bit disappointed with the penalty,” he said. “I’ve had a look and Liam Gordon actually gets pushed.
“It’s a decision where I don’t think you need to give a penalty. It’s a contact sport and there are always hands on players in the box.
“Liam feels very hard done by. He was just trying to win the ball and someone went into the back of him.”
There was a double sense of injustice in the home dressing room on Sunday given Callum Hendry’s first half goal shouldn’t have been disallowed for offside.
“I was right beside Callum at the time and couldn’t see if he was offside,” said Kerr.
“But I’ve seen it back and there are at least three boys playing him onside. One of them is playing him two yards onside.
“I’m confused as to why the linesman has given it. I don’t get it and it’s a bread and butter decision. You can say it happens in quick time on the pitch, but he is miles onside.
“I’m not making excuses but it does change games when you go a goal up.
“It was obviously a gutting feeling to lose but we need to take positives because I thought we played better than the Aberdeen game.”
