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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Scott McDermott

Graham Alexander slaughters Hearts 'non penalty' as Motherwell boss insists VAR can't come soon enough

Graham Alexander hopes the introduction of VAR into Scottish football will stop the unfair penalty calls he believes went against Motherwell at Tynecastle.

The Steelmen conceded two spot kicks against Hearts – one scored and one missed by Hearts striker Liam Boyce in their 2-0 victory.

Alexander is disputing both decisions by referee David Munro and is confident that VAR would have fallen in favour of 'Well.

The SFA and SPFL will hold discussions on Friday about the possibility of bringing the technology into the Premiership by 2023.

And Alexander is convinced that top flight managers are in favour of it.

After the defeat in Edinburgh on Saturday, the Motherwell gaffer said: “For the first penalty, I think there might be a touch but there's only one thing the lad (Boyce) is looking for.

“He's an experienced player and we have to learn from that.

“The second one is definitely not a penalty. I've seen it and if you're giving one for that, it's going to be six in a game. It's just a non-penalty.

“Thankfully Liam Kelly saved it to keep us in the game

“VAR would have sorted those decisions out. Listen, it might have proved me wrong and say it was a penalty but I believe it wasn't.

“If you see it and understand it, it takes out any conjecture.

“We've been on the wrong end of decisions which have cost us points against big teams.

“I'm sure every manager will have their own agenda where they feel it's always against his own team.

“But we've had 16 penalties against us in the last 12 to 14 months which is a bit high.

“VAR is there to help professional football.

“If it's managed right and it gives officials support they might need – I think it will be a benefit to Scottish football.

“I can’t talk for other managers. But we work extremely hard through the week and if things go against you that shouldn’t - a quick decision stops all the discussion and you carry on with the game.

“The game is so fast and there are so many incidents, it is very difficult for officials to get them all right.

“If we can minimise that, it would be good.”

Alexander's side missed the chance to go top of the Premiership for 24 hours as Hearts jumped to the summit with a win.

But he refused to be downbeat after the Lanarkshire side's impressive start to the campaign.

He said: “I'm disappointed because I felt we deserved more from the game.

“Over 90 minutes, I thought we created some great chances.

“My players' heads never dropped and the general performance was a massive improvement on last week when we won.

“But the big moments didn't go for us today.

“There is a lot to build on. There is a real positive vibe around the club and we are in a great position that no-one expected us to be in.”

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