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Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

Motherwell boss baffled by penalty decision as he sends 'check VAR' message after Saints draw

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander has been left lost for words after a penalty had his team draw 2-2 with St Mirren.

Tony Watt's second half double had put the Steelmen two goals ahead before Eammon Brophy pulled one back. But controversy followed as Sondre Solholm Johansen conceded a penalty.

'Well goalkeeper Liam Kelly saved Brophy's first try from 12 yards before Bobby Madden ordered a retake after advice from his assistant referee, leaving the Fir Park hosts furious.

Alexander has called for VAR (Video Assistant Referee) before in Scottish football and was booked for his protests over the penalty.

He has also raised refereeing complaints in recent games against Hearts, Celtic and Dundee United. Motherwell face Rangers on Sunday.

"It wasn't a penalty," said a despondent Alexander. "I'll have to check VAR - oh, have we not got that? Honestly, I don't know what to say.

"I want to be honest but I want to work next week and on Sunday with my team on the touchline, I can't say what I feel.

"There's no point me speaking to the referee as I don't want punished after my team has been punished. It was blatant for everybody to see. Me giving a description is pointless.

Motherwell are left dejected. (SNS Group)

"I have too much to focus on to worry about this battle. It's pointless. It's not every week, certainly not that decision, that's not even every year.

"It's not just the worst decision I've seen up here. I can't explain those decisions in an honest way. We can't control that."

The draw ended Motherwell's run of three straight defeats and it leaves them sixth in the Premiership.

"I think we got a 2-0 lead from a game we weren't in control of," explained Alexander. "I thought St Mirren were the better team in the first half.

"We tweaked a few things and the players upped their tempo. We score two goals and then things conspired against us to take that away.

"We'll see what we can do better. But we can't control some of the decisions tonight."

Finland international Juhani Ojala hobbled off in the first half with injury in a concern for Alexander, who says it's a muscle problem.

"I'm not sure how he is," added Motherwell's boss. "I think it was his groin he was feeling. We'll see how he is but he's in good hands. I don't have a clue about the extent of it."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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