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St Johnstone boss Craig Levein wants VAR-free Dundee clash

The Perth manager was exasperated by VAR's use in Saints' last meeting with the Dark Blues.

Craig Levein wasn't happy with what he saw at Dens.
Craig Levein wasn't happy with what he saw at Dens. Image: SNS

Craig Levein walked away from St Johnstone’s last clash with Dundee with real concerns about VAR’s use in Scottish football.

Now the Perth boss is hoping for a quiet afternoon on the video front when the teams meet again on Saturday.

Levein was left questioning the off-field decision-making around Dundee being awarded a second half penalty at Dens Park during Saints’ eventual 2-1 defeat in February.

The McDiarmid Park manager revealed neither he, nor Dundee counterpart Tony Docherty, knew at which end of the park the Glasgow-based replay officials were checking for a spot kick.

In the weeks since, Saints, like Motherwell, have made their unhappiness with how VAR is being used clear to the SFA, sending a selection of decisions with which they feel aggrieved to Hampden for inspection.

The St Johnstone management team of Craig Levein (centre) and No. 2 Andy Kirk (right) talk to the fourth official at Dens Park. Image: SNSS

Levein knows VAR provides no excuse for his side’s league position this deep into the season.

But, with the battle for Premiership survival extremely tight, he hopes it does not have as big an impact this week as it did at Dens.

He said: “That was crazy.

“It’s this idea that you stand at the side-line with absolutely no idea what’s going on. None.

“I had no idea, Tony Docherty had no idea, the supporters had no idea.

“Then you get to the fourth official to try to get some idea and he’s holding you off.

“We’ve had plenty to deal with on the VAR front, including some really dodgy ones, which has been disappointing.

“I’ve felt we were let down by the outcomes, then you get an apology.

VAR ‘irritant’

“We’d put together a selection of incidents where, in our games, the decisions had gone one way and in others they’d gone the complete opposite way.

“But again, I’m not sitting here particularly blaming VAR over goals. We’re in this situation because of the way we’ve played more than anything else.

“It’s just another thing that’s an irritant.”

The last time St Johnstone and Dundee met, a victory for the Perth side would have sent them into the top six.

Now the Dark Blues are looking for points to secure a top half finish, while Levein’s side are focused on avoiding the play-off place, currently occupied by Ross County.

The vibe may have changed for Saints as far as the league table is concerned, but their manager remains focused on keeping things as light as possible for a squad under pressure to secure the club’s top flight status.

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein.
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein. Image: SNS.

“I thought our performance against Celtic was good at times,” said Levein of Saints’ last outing.

“It was a hard game, we’d had a bit of time off before that, we’ve had time off after it for the international break.

“This week’s training is really important. If we get it right then get a good performance at the weekend, we’ll then put ourselves in a good spot.

“The positive case is, we’re in a better position than we were three or four months ago. We know that and the players know that.

“At times we’ve shown signs of improvement for a little spell, then we’ve fallen back a bit.

“Some of the stuff in training is really good, then at other times something goes wrong and the confidence takes a wee knock.

“It’s just about trying to keep their spirits up and making sure they do the hard work. After that, we’ll take what we get.”

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