Jim Goodwin rages at TWO 'poor' Dundee United ref decisions as he demands Crawford Allan inquisition into Morton defeat
The Terrors remain three points behind Championship leaders Raith, who themselves lost away to Airdrie, and do have a game in hand.
Jim Goodwin was left seething at two key refereeing decisions as 10-man Dundee United surrendered the chance to recoup ground on Raith in the Scottish Championship title race by faltering to a 3-2 defeat against Greenock Morton.
The Tangerines were 2-0 down within 26 minutes before Kai Fotheringham and Louis Moult levelled proceedings. But 'Ton striker George Oakley stepped up to net his hat-trick and the elusive winner in the dying moments leaving Goodwin rueing several of whistler Ian Sneddon's decisions.
United head coach Goodwin believes they were denied a clear penalty kick for a foul on Kevin Holt during the second half with the scoreline all square. Instead the ref penalised the home player - a decision that Goodwin believes cost them the game. The Irishman raged: "It may seem like sour grapes, I'm taking nothing away from Dougie Imrie and his players, but at 2-2 we've got a stonewall penalty. I cannot understand how that decision can go against us and a free-kick be awarded to Morton.
"Kirk Broadfoot is a good, experienced, aggressive centre-half, but Kevin Holt has just nicked half a yard on him. Broadfoot has his arms all over him and fell on top of him when they went to the ground. How the referee can see that the other way is really hard to take.
"That's an opportunity at 2-2 to go 3-2 in front. And had we got our noses in front, I'm confident we'd have gone on to win the game."
And Goodwin didn't hold back as he continued to slam Sneddon's calls. Sibbald was shown a red card late on following a second yellow card offence, which the Dundee United gaffer claims was another awful decision - with replays showing that the midfielder had actually won the ball. Sibbald will now face an unwanted suspension.
"Another really poor decision", Goodwin recalled. "When the referee has a chance to watch it back - hopefully Crawford Allan, the head of referees, will sit them down, look at it, and get an explanation - hopefully there will be learnings from it.
"Craig Sibbald does that side of the game so well, breaking things up in the middle of the pitch. He's been outstanding for us all season, one of our most consistent performers I would say.
"Our analyst has slowed it down and showed me what happened. Craig has clearly got a toe on the ball and changed the trajectory of it. But a foul is awarded against us. Craig is given a second yellow and will now face a suspension unfortunately."
