DAVIDSON FUMING AS REF MISSES HANDBALL
CALLUM DAVIDSON last night insisted it was obvious Aberdeen substitute Teddy Jenks handled the ball before slamming home the late winner that plunged St Johnstone to the bottom of the Premiership — and claimed dodgy decisions against his team are becoming difficult to stomach.
Saints have now won just once in nine games, having scored only nine goals in 16 league fixtures, but Davidson believes they have been badly hampered by a succession of bad calls going against them, with Jenks being let off the hook by referee Greg Aitken just the latest.
‘From behind the goal, it is obvious,’ said Davidson. ‘He has brought it down in his palm to go and hit it. Whether he means to do it or not, I don’t know. We haven’t had any of those decisions go for us this season.
‘When you look at the video, if he (Aitken) is standing in the right place, he obviously has a blocked view as the header came down. That’s why referees need help. They can’t have their eyes everywhere.’
The goal came from a free-kick given for a Liam Craig challenge on Lewis Ferguson and Davidson reckons the officials got that one wrong, too.
‘I didn’t think it was a free-kick,’ he said. ‘Referees’ (decisions) this season haven’t really gone our way.
‘Three or four handballs have led to goals. The Hearts game, Hibs penalty, that game today. The table is really tight and it is important that those decisions are right.
‘All four officials have to make the right decision or get help from something like VAR. It was a crucial time of the game.
‘I asked the players to go and play with a freedom. A bit of energy and enthusiasm.
‘I thought the first half was even, then in the second half we started to dominate. Chris Kane hit the post just before it (Jenks’ goal), so it was hard to take, but I was really pleased with the performance.
‘Hopefully, we add a couple of new faces in January but I believe in this group.’
Davidson has completed a deal for 31-year-old Australian midfielder Jacob Butterfield, once a £4million signing for Derby, and hopes to have him available for the midweek visit to Rangers.