‘Refereeing mistakes cost us’ says frustrated Goodwin
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin was frustrated by refereeing decisions that went against his side in their 0-0 cinch Premiership draw with St Mirren.
The Dons had a Ross Mccrorie goal disallowed in the first half and were also awarded a penalty before referee Don Robertson reversed the decision after conversation with his linesman.
Goodwin said “I thought we played OK in spells. We had the ballinthenetlegitimatelyfrom a corner. There’s no way in the worldthere’safoulandhowthe referee came to the conclusion he did is beyond me.
“The penalty incident, I could maybe have understood if the assistant had overruled the referee for a push in the back, but he’s said the ball hit Scott Tanser on the head which is baffling.
“(St Mirren goalkeeper) Jak Alnwick made a couple of
good saves as well, so I felt we were in complete control.
“It’s a frustrating afternoon once again. We’ve played well without having the killer instinct in front of goal. Today we did, but refereeing mistakes cost us.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson highlighted his side’s recent good form defensively as a platform to build on looking forward.
The Buddies have notched four clean sheets in their last four games, and although they will lose goalkeeper Alnwick,
Robinson was full of praise. “We’ve been really well organised and hard to break down,” he said. “I think it’s the first time since 2011 we’ve kept four consecutive clean sheets.
“The template is there defensively and we know what we need to do in the summer in terms of building on the core of the players that are remaining here, and adding pace and creativity.
“Jak has been very good for the club, and I believe we are replacing him with a like-forlike replacement. Players like him are difficult to replace, but everybody is replaceable and we will do so.”
The two sides played out a dreary draw as the curtain came down on Andy Considine’s lengthy Dons career.
The defender was given a guard of honour and the captain’s armband as he led Aberdeen out, 18 years to the day since his debut for the club.
But his swansong was cut short through injury shortly after the interval, with the entirety of Pittodrie rising to applaud the departing veteran.
The home side started brightly, with Lewis Ferguson influential in their early play. The midfielder fired a left-footed shot over the crossbar in the early stages after a strong run from Mccrorie down the right created the chance.
Soon after, this time on his right foot, Ferguson had another effort after a St Mirren clearance fell to him, but Alnwick tipped the effort over the crossbar. From the resultant corner, Considine saw a low shot blocked.
Connor Barron saw a low shot pushed round the post by Alnwick before Mccrorie had the ball in the net from the resultant corner, but the effort was ruled out for a handball.
The Dons were awarded a spot-kick on the stroke of halftime when Connor Mccarthy was deemed by Robertson to have handled a David Bates back post header, but the decisionwasoverruledafterconsultation with the assistant, much to the chagrin of the home side.