Ross unhappy with ref after Tannadice defeat

St Mirren boss Jack Ross says he will not hold his breath waiting for an apology from referee Craig Charleston after his Tannadice blunder.

Saints were looking to boost their Ladbrokes Championship survival hopes by extending their sevenmatch unbeaten run against Dundee United.

But they slumped to a 3-2 defeat after Charleston waved play on in the lead up to Thomas Mikkelsen’s opener despite the Dane wiping out Buddies midfielder Gary MacKenzie in the build-up.

But what really annoyed Ross was Charleston’s post-match comments, where he is alleged to have told the manager that his ninth-placed Saints will find a way to safety in their final two games of the season.

Ross told his club’s official website: “It’s very simple – it’s a free-kick. I don’t think there’s anybody in the stadium who doesn’t think it’s a free-kick, other than the match officials.

“Anyone who watches it back, as I have done already, knows it’s a free-kick.

“The game doesn’t finish 1-0 but it still has a determining factor. We lose a goal and it influences the game. We’re then left playing catch-up.

“I hope when the referee watches it back he might change his mind.

“I’m a bit disappointed with some of his comments at the end of the game. I don’t think my performance or where my team is going is of any relevance to him. His focus should be on getting decisions right on the pitch.

“I’m big enough and man enough to admit when I make mistakes. I’m not sure that will come [from the referee] but we will wait and see.”

United will be joined in the promotion hunt by Morton after they claimed a 1-1 draw with Ayr at Cappielow to seal their play-off slot.

Falkirk tightened their grip on second place with a 2-1 win over Dunfermline, while Dumbarton took a step closer to maintaining their Championship status with a 2-1 win over Queen of the South.