If only...well boss frustrated by penalty call
Stephen Robinson was adamant Motherwell were denied a cast-iron penalty by referee Don Robertson during their breathless 1-1 draw against Hearts.
Jermaine Hylton was sent scampering through on goal by a fine Liam Polwarth pass in the first period and plunged to the turf under a challenge from Jambos goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal.
With the score already 1-0 to the visitors, a spotkick would have given Robinson’s men a golden opportunity to cement a crucial three points in the battle to be crowned the Premiership’s best of the rest.
However, Robertson waved away appeals and Conor Washington went on to restore parity after the break, cancelling out Chris Long’s opener.
The Northern Irishman accepts that Hylton may have anticipated contact as the Czech stopper loomed – but says the decision should have still gone their way.
“Everyone who was watching knows it should have been a penalty,” he rued. “It was a twofooted tackle at 1-0 and, if we score, then they need to come out and really press us high and go for it. The game would possibly have a different ending with us getting three points.
“If we the technology other countries have got then perhaps that helps the referees. He (Robertson) had thought Jermaine was on his way down, and he probably was, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s been caught fully. It’s a penalty.
“But sometimes you get these things and sometimes you don’t.”
Robinson was still immensely proud of his side’s showing against a resurgent Hearts.
Liam Polwarth, Long and Declan Gallagher all had opportunities to turn one point into three as both teams strived for a win.
“We came with a game-plan: we knew Hearts would press us higher up the pitch and go quite direct,” said Robinson. “We had pace and energy on the counter-attack and, although we sometimes made the wrong decision with the ball, we created a lot of clear-cut chances.
“To come totynecastle, in terms of budgets and quality, and be slightly disappointed not to take all three points shows how far we have come.”
Robinson, meanwhile, faces a nervous wait to find out the extent of the injury to Allan Campbell after the combative midfielder limped out of the action in the first half.
He added: “If Allan has come off the pitch then it’s not good for us because the wee man doesn’t come off too often. We’ll assess that over the rest of the weekend.
“Hopefully we’ll have him back soon.