Reverse charge is so costly for Saints
Davidson baffled by ref’s U-turn on penalty call
IN over 300 games as a professional footballer, Murray Davidson had never seen a referee award — then quickly rescind — a penalty kick.
But on Saturday, just after the hour mark, the St Johnstone midfielder was left to rue an unwanted career first courtesy of match official Steven McLean.
The referee had wasted no time in pointing to the spot after Andy Considine clipped Matty Kennedy as he chased a ball across the box — and from Sportsmail’s vantage point, the Dons defender did catch the Saints winger.
Afterwards, Kennedy and his manager Tommy Wright suggested that there had been contact from Considine and that a penalty should have followed.
However, after consulting his assistant, Graeme Stewart, McLean went back on his initial decision, enraging the visiting players by awarding a drop-ball instead.
For Davidson, there was to be double frustration as he claimed McLean later turned a blind eye to a blatant push in his back as the clock ticked down on this 1-1 draw.
‘That’s the first time in my career that I’ve seen a penalty given that was overturned,’ he sighed.
‘The referee has given it at first but then he has gone to his assistant and he has overturned his decision.
‘It was extremely frustrating. Matty Kennedy says there was contact — not a great deal of contact, but when you are running at pace, the slightest touch can put you over.
‘I’ve no doubt that Matty’s tried to buy a penalty because he felt contact. But what I do know is that there was a cross into the box later in the game and I was going to head the ball when there was a push on my back.
‘There was contact on me, 100 per cent, and I thought it was a penalty. But it seemed like Steven McLean was not interested. He said there was not enough contact.
‘I asked Steven 30 questions during the game but I didn’t get any answers. I don’t think I’m his favourite player in the league, although I do usually get on well with him.’
Having made a mess of the first penalty decision, did Davidson think the fiasco was in the back of McLean’s mind as he waved away his claim for a spot-kick after the shove in his back?
‘Maybe. But two wrongs don’t make a right,’ he said. ‘The bottom line is the ref’s gone against his
initial decision. He told me he had got the decision right but I don’t know how he can go from giving the penalty to saying two minutes later after speaking to his linesman that he was right not to give it.
‘It’s frustrating because we were well on top at that time. I’ve nothing against the linesman getting involved — but I wish he hadn’t got involved today.’
Aberdeen thought they had taken an early lead when Sam Cosgrove leapt to meet a Greg Leigh cross but the ball struck the outside of the post. His effort appeared to have hit Scott Tanser on the arm, so perhaps Aberdeen could have had a penalty of their own.
Derek McInnes’ side did take the lead when Leigh and Lewis Ferguson went for a loose ball in the box and it ended up at the feet of ryan Hedges. The Wales winger then drilled a fierce low finish under Zander Clark.
St Johnstone had worked their socks off without offering an attacking threat. But, out of nowhere, they were level when a speculative long-range shot from Michael o’Halloran squirmed past Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis.
Lewis is normally as dependable as they come in the Premiership but this was a rare clanger.
Aberdeen were poor after the break, with Jason Holt the standout in midfield on his debut for Saints after joining on loan from rangers.
But the Dons nearly grabbed a winner at the death when Ferguson’s deflected free-kick forced a fine save from Clark.
In the end, St Johnstone were well worthy of the draw. Wright’s men are still without a win in the Premiership this season but they are no longer bottom of the table.
And they can go into next Sunday’s home match with rangers with confidence after this rock solid display in the Granite City.
‘We’ve got to take the positives,’ said Davidson. ‘We have come to Pittodrie and faced a really good Aberdeen team who have shown over the last few seasons they are one of the best sides in the land and we have matched them.
‘It’s been a difficult start to the season for us but there are definitely a lot of positives and the new players who have come in recently have lifted the team.
‘Now we have a tough match against rangers next week but if we play like that we will be fine.
‘I’ve heard people talking about us being bottom of the table but it’s still early doors. I don’t look at the table.
‘We know we need to improve our home form but we’ll try and do that against rangers next week.’