Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin believes the VAR fall out from Hibernian’s last outing was a factor in his team conceding a late penalty in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Jamie McGrath’s controversial 86th-minute spot kick earned the hosts a point as they fought back from two goals down.
The penalty was awarded by referee Dan McFarlane following a review, after Kieron Bowie’s acrobatic effort struck Vicko Sevelj’s arm.
The United midfielder was also sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
And Goodwin insists there was only going to be one outcome after the SFA admitted they got it wrong by not awarding Hibs a late penalty in their draw with St Mirren 13 days ago.
Goodwin, who watched Luca Stephenson hit a double either side of Zac Sapsford’s effort, said: “Personally I don’t think it’s a penalty, I’m sure David Gray will have a different opinion on it.
“I did have a slight concern coming into the game when I watched the VAR review.
“I heard what the head of referees (Willie Collum) was saying about the St Mirren game when the penalty wasn’t given.
“I think that’s really different. I think the St Mirren defender (Jayden Richardson) nearly caught the ball on that occasion. Whereas, Vicko – I don’t know what else he can do.
“I think it was really, really harsh. These decisions are very subjective.
“But certainly, with the opinion of what was given on the previous game here against St Mirren, I think subconsciously as a referee that must be in the back of your mind.
“I thought today, if there had been a 50-50 chance of a penalty today, I had a feeling it was going to go against us and that’s the way it did.”
Hibs boss Gray, whose team also found the net through an own goal from United goalkeeper Yevhenii Kucherenko and Bowie, said: “It’s quite hard to digest all that, to be honest.
“If I start with the positive side to it, you find yourself 3-1 down and don’t lose the game then that is a positive because the players kept going right to the very end.
“I thought on the whole defensively it was a poor performance from us – across the board, not just any individual.
“I thought as a group and I’ve just said that to the players as well, that we were a little bit reactive rather than being proactive, which is unlike us.”
