(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson was left fuming after a red card for Melker Hallberg in the Saints 0-0 draw with Dundee United – insisting referee Colin Steven had got it badly wrong.
The Saints new boy was dismissed for after picking up two yellow cards, with Davidson earning a booking for his protests, and the McDiarmid Park boss thinks the official may have cost his side the win in Perth yesterday.
“I’m not happy with the sending off. I didn’t think there was anything in it and I still don’t after watching it back,” Davidson said after the final whistle.
“If you are going to book players for what Melker did then every player on the pitch is going to get booked.
“For me it is really soft and another disappointing decision against us.
“It could have cost us the three points and it means we lose an important player for the next game.
“He has been fantastic since he signed and it is important he plays for us.
“I was told it was a tug and then told it was an arm around the neck. I still can’t see any of those.”
While Davidson wasn’t pleased with the official, the result lifted Saints a point clear of Dundee at the foot of the table and made it three league games without defeat for his side.
The Saints boss was happy with how his side performed as he called St Johnstone’s second-half showing “super”.
“I thought it was an entertaining game in the first half and we had the best chance,” he added.
“It fell to Ali Crawford and normally he sticks them away.
“It was a tight game and in the second half I thought we were super.
“We really limited Dundee United to just a few chances when we were down to ten men.
“I was really pleased with the attitude of the boys. There was no lack of spirit and desire.”
Next up is a trip to Paisley to face St Mirren, albeit without Hallberg after his dismissal yesterday.
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