Technology may be AVARY good idea: Alexander
Mo t h e r we l l m a n a g e r Graham Alexander said his side’s loss to Hear ts provided a good argument for the introduction of VAR.
The St e e l m e n had two penalties awarded against them by referee David Munro with Liam Kelly protesting in both cases.
And while not having too many complaints about the first, for Kelly’s challenge on Liam Boyce, Alexander felt it could have overturned the second in which Cameron Devlin was adjudged to have been pushed (which was saved by Kelly in any case).
“VA R w o u l d have sorted those decisions out,” he said.
“Listen, it might have proved me wrong and said it was a penalty but I believe it wasn’t.
“If you see it and understand it, it takes out any conjecture.
“We’ve been on the wrong end of decisions which have cost us points against big teams.
“I ’m sure every manager will have their own agenda where they feel it’s always against his own team.
“But we’ve had 16 penalties against us in the last 12 to 14 months which is a bit high. We’re not all innocent in that but it’s high.
“VAR is there to help professional football. There were problems with it down south last season with delays but the Euros was a step forward for it because it was quick and decisive.
“If it’s managed right and it gives officials support they might need – I think it will be a benefit to Scottish football.”
Premiership clubs are due to meet on Friday to discuss the introduction of video assistant referees for all top- flight matches and the later rounds of the cup competitions.
Alexander said he could see there being plenty of support for bringing in the technology.
“I c a n’t talk for anybody else because I haven’t discussed it with them,” he said.
“But we work extremely hard through the week and if things go against you that shouldn’t, a quick decision stops all the discussion and you carry on with the game.
“The game is so fast and there are so many incidents, so it is difficult for officials to get them all right. If we can minimise that, it would be good.”
Meanwhile, Boyce was bullish about his side’s chances of going the distance.
“We believe we can stay up there, 100%. We’ve played eight games and even the draws, we drew against Hibs and that was my worst game of the season, if I had played well we’d have had chances to win it.
“And we still didn’t lose the game, that’s when the defence helps you.
“So everything is going the right way and we need to keep it going.”