More honest mistakes spoil SPFL
Fresh from the shambles of cornergate at Inverness and the chaos of the League Cup quarter-finals Iain Brines and John Beaton took centre stage in ruining the weekend for Aberdeen and Partick Thistle supporters as the fruits of the Hugh Dallas regime undermine Scottish football.
While Ross County got away with plenty of industrial challenges against Celtic Brines and Beaton were making the most elementary of mistakes denying teams penalties and the opportunity to play against ten men. As a result of their decisions both Aberdeen and Partick Thistle both lost.
At Pittodrie Aberdeen were hoping to stay in touch with Celtic by beating Hearts before their next fixture, at Parkhead, but after going 1-0 up found themselves on the wrong end of some Brines logic as Dylan McGowan blocked a netbound Michael Hector shot with his arm.
Aberdeen later missed a penalty and had Barry Robson sent off for two red cards but boss Derek McInnes was clear in his feelings about bungling Brines influence on the game.
“There were two major incidents that had an impact on the result,” the Dons boss stated.
“Obviously, Niall missing the penalty was a chance to go 2-0 up. It was total domination from us at that point but before that, Hearts should have been reduced to 10 men and we should have had a penalty when Dylan handled on the line.
“It’s a clear handball. The ref and officials should get it right. It’s too big a decision not to. And it was a pivotal moment.”
At Firhill Alan Archibald was left frustrated by Beaton’s failure to award a penalty when Jim Goodwin used his arm to block a shot from Kallum Higginbotham with the game poised at 1-0 to St Mirren.
“The penalty decision was the turning point,” Archibald admitted. “You could tell by the roar of the crowd it was a penalty.
“Goodwin has moved his arm to the side and blocked the ball. If that is not a penalty I don’t know what is.
“The fourth official told me he had not moved his arm but he we will be embarrassed if that is what he thought when he sees it again.
“He moved his arm to the side but we do not get the decisions that changes games.
“It could have been 1-1 and then we have got the momentum to go and get the win.”
Three years ago Scottish referees went on strike for reasons unexplained with the usual suspects and mouthpieces blaming Neil Lennon.