Three pens is a scandal... there should have been FIVE
But the whistler could have ended up giving five spot-kicks, according to the rival gaffers.
After Liam Craig had missed from 12 yards, Danny Swanson netted a penalty double to put Tommy Wright’s men in command of this Group B tie.
However, the Perth gaffer thought Luke Leahy’s challenge on Graham Cummins in the box early in the first half was also worthy of a pen.
And Falkirk boss Peter Houston was raging with Madden for failing to punish Steven Anderson after he toppled John Baird with the score at 1- 0.
Houston also claimed the third Saints penalty was “soft as s**t” but Wright was having none of it.
He said: “We should have had four penalties. Graham Cummins was fouled early in the first half. I have seen the penalties back. Swanson’s was a penalty, Shaughnessy’s was a penalty as his marker has his arms around him.
“The argument will be that there is no consistency in the situation at the third penalty but he has seen it and we could clearly see his shirt was getting pulled. By the letter of the law they are penalties.”
But Houston was raging when Leahy was punished for tugging Cummins’ shirt for that third spot-kick.
The Bairns boss said :“It is an absolute joke as I saw that at half-time. “Luke has lifted his arm and they both have a hold of each others jersey. It is as soft as s**t.” He was also upset about the challenge on Baird and said: “He went down possibly a little too easily but Anderson has committed a foul by coming over the top of him.
“I didn’t think there was consistency in the penalty decisions.”
The first arrived after 14 minutes when Swanson was crudely upended by Tom Taiwo but former Bairns midfielder Craig saw his effort brilliantly parried by Danny Rogers in the Falkirk goal.
Just 10 minutes later, Paul Watson wrapped h is arms a round Joe Shaughnessy at Craig’s corner and conceded another penalty.
Rogers came agonisingly close to saving Swanson’s effort but it had too much power for the keeper.
Baird’s penalty appeal was then turned down before Madden chalked up a hat-trick of spot-kick awards when Leahy was penalised for his tug on Cummins.
Swanson confidently rammed home the kick and defender Shaughnessy sealed victory for Saints after the break by bundling home after Rogers had saved Steven MacLean’s overhead kick.