Kerr claims dodgy decisions have cost his side 12 precious points THE REF WORD

Albion Rovers boss Brian Kerr has blasted the standard of refereeing in Scotland – claiming that the decisions of match officials have already cost his side a huge 12 points this term.

The Cliftonhill gaffer believes that the Coatbridge outfit have been impacted by a series of poor calls as they slipped down the League One table.

Kerr slammed the ropey refs in the third tier and pointed to the game against Ayr as the latest in a series of whistler woes.

The gaffer raged as Sean Higgins was bundled over in the box by Somerset Park defender Andrew Geggan in the closing stages of the defeat last week but man in the middle Stephen Finnie waved away the claims.

Referees have once again been in the spotlight this season with high-profile errors at the top level in Scotland and Kerr has joined calls for Scottish football bosses to clamp down on errors.

He fears it could cost the club dearly at the end of the campaign.

“There are clear decisions that are costing us points and deciding games,” he told the Advertiser.

“We’re losing these games and it’s putting us in a position.

“Throughout the season I would say that the decisions of referees have cost us at least 12 points.

“It’s continually happening. Looking back on the game (against Ayr) I’m convinced that we should have had a penalty towards the end. It was a clear penalty for me then and when I looked at it back.

“Against Ayr as well, the Ayr player runs away with the ball and Alan Trouten is trying to get the ball back because we are near the end of the game. We are at home to the league leaders and a goal behind, we are trying to rescue a point.

“Alan chases to get the ball back – and gets booked. Sometimes you just don’t know what to make of it.” He continued: “It’s got to be something that is looked at. “It’s not just the odd decision, these calls are big decisions that are deciding games.

“If a player makes a mistake they can lose a game, lose a win bonus, or lose their place in the team. “Wi t h the referees they just get away

with it.”