Ref was conned over spot-kick, insists Goodwin
St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin hit out last night, claiming a penalty that never was had cost his side a valuable victory over Hibs.
Referee Kevin Clancy made the award when penalising Saints defender Matt Millar for grappling with Ryan Porteous as the pair waited in the box at a corner.
Goodwin, however, argued the official had been conned by the Hibs defender.
“I call it as I see it and I try to be honest in every interview that I give,” said the Irishman, following his side’s 2-2 draw at Easter Road.
“I thought it was a soft penalty.
“There is a bit of contact there as the ball comes in, but before Porteous goes to ground, Matt Millar moves his hands to the side to prove to the referee he’s not touching him.
“To be fair to him, he has got a habit of winning cheap free-kicks over the years. Some people might say he is clever but the referee needs to see what is going on there.
“There’s real frustration because I think we could have won the game had that second goal not gone against us.
“We had the Hibs’ fans on their team’s back. I should be pleased my players gave everything right up until the end because that first 15 minutes of the second half things could have got away from us.
“It could have gone three or four but great credit to the boys and I knew they would react like that because we’ve got great spirit in the group.
“Our second was a really well worked goal and Joe Shaughnessy has no right to be there but he’s got that determination.”
Hibs’ boss Jack Ross for his part felt the award was, though not a stonewall penalty, no great surprise.
“I wanted it for my team,” he said.
“All managers would claim for it. I’ll take it, but when I watch it back, I can understand why it’s given,” he said.
“When you get that close to an opponent and you put arms around him, which I think Millar did, you give the referee a potential decision to make.
“However, it is not always the case that they’re given. Quite often, they are not and quite often they go the other way.
“It is something that is becoming more and more difficult for referees to get right. There was one in the Premier League today as well in the Wolves game, but that was a bit more clear-cut.
“But, yeah, that is just me. I would clam for it and want it.”