GOAL ROW CROSSED LINE FOR BUDDIES BOSS ORAN
ST MIRREN boss Oran Kearney insists goal-line technology can save Scottish football from red faces after a controversial defeat to Kilmarnock.
Aaron Tshibola’s 69th-minute header was deemed a goal by referee Willie Collum with help from his assistant Douglas Ross, despite protests the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
And to make matters worse for Saints, a Simeon Jackson strike was later wrongly ruled out for offside by the other linesman David Roome.
Kilmarnock went on to win 2-1, leaving a frustrated Kearney still searching for his first victory as Saints boss.
And the Northern Irishman believes the introduction of the technology used to great effect in the Premier League down south would be a welcome addition up here too.
He said: “The two big talking points from Saturday were those goals. One was definitely wrong and the other was hard to say for certain so it’s very frustrating.
“I’ve seen a picture from a different angle of the second Kilmarnock goal and I would say it’s still inconclusive. One of their players is standing between the post and the line so how the linesman can get a view of it then say it’s over the line or not, I struggle with that.
“Match officials get a hard time and it’s a tough job but in the last few weeks it feels like we’ve had a few decisions that have hurt us in critical moments.
“Having goal-line technology would have taken the grey area out of that incident. The referee’s watch would buzz straight away and you’d know immediately one way or the other. I know there are cost implications but it would be good if that could be introduced to our league.
“It’s been a success down in England and other places as there isn’t any huge stopping and starting. The game still flows and it’d be one less thing for referees here to have to worry about.”