Frustrated Hammell troubled by late spot of bother with VAR

MOTHERWELL manager Steven Hammell last night claimed his team were denied a late penalty against Aberdeen — and questioned why VAR did not intervene.

The Fir Park side trailed to an early effort from Dons striker Bojan Miovski, which was awarded after the goal was initially ruled out for offside.

Motherwell equalised thanks to Stuart McKinstry’s strike after the break but then lost out as Luis Lopes headed home for the visitors.

However, Hammell claimed defender Ricki Lamie’s shirt had been pulled by Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart in stoppage time and shouted for a potential handball by Matty Kennedy— but those incidents weren’t referred to VAR.

‘They (officials) need to be very careful,’ said Hammell. ‘The games are paused two or three minutes when they are making these decisions. We felt we had two very strong claims, the handball was clear, but the one where Rickie Lamie is tripped right at the end and then the whistle goes.

‘For that to happen without the check and then there is the fulltime whistle, we think it hasn’t been looked at properly, especially the way we see it. It’s a penalty and these are big moments in the game.

‘We were told that the game was over. We feel like it doesn’t matter what time of the game it is, the incidents should all be looked at the same. It’s supposed to be here to look at things and at least check it. I don’t think they did that.’

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin was delighted to see Miovski and Lopes find the net — and was pleased to give the travelling support something to shout about.

‘I am pleased for both of them to each claim a good goal,’ he said. ‘The first one is a real bit of class from Miovski and thankfully VAR was here because it would have been a travesty if that goal had been ruled offside wrongly and we did not get to see the quality of it.

‘The second goal was everything we have spoken of during the week, trying to get the quality in the wide angles. Jack MacKenzie put a brilliant ball in and it was a good header from Duk (Lopes).

‘People keep talking about our (away) record but we have beaten St Johnstone in Perth. I don’t want to go through all the rigmarole with the other ones but the most disappointing one was Dundee United two weeks ago

(a 4-0 defeat). ‘It was a really poor performance and we knew we had to bounce back. We knew we owed the travelling support, who have been immense all season.’