STEPHEN Robinson last night claimed that referee Craig Thomson killed off Motherwell’s hopes of beating Celtic in the Betfred Cup final with his controversial penalty and red card decisions.
Robinson was incensed that Thomson ruled Cedric Kipre had brought down Scott Sinclair inside his own area in the second half of the match at Hampden yesterday and then sent the defender off.
Moussa Dembele, whose side was leading 1-0 at the time of the incident thanks to a James Forrest strike, converted the spot kick to effectively ensure that Brendan Rodgers’s side retained their trophy.
Robinson also felt that his side should have been awarded a spot kick shortly before that when Louis Moult was clipped by Kieran Tierney as he advanced on goal.
“The game is over with that decision,” he said. “For me, there is no contact, but once that decision is made, the game is over as a contest. There is no contact. And a red card? The game is over then.
“It completely changes the game. Louis has had an unbelievable save from Craig Gordon just before that. Then Tierney catches Louis as he goes into the box, ready to finish - no penalty. Then there’s that decision that clearly changes the game.
“Congratulations to Celtic, they are a top, top football team and we all acknowledge that. But it’s hard to take in that manner. I’d rather have been pumped six or seven-nil than have the game affected by that decision.”
Robinson revealed that Kipre had been reduced to tears by the decision, but refused to accuse Sinclair of diving. “The kid’s crying,” he said. “He’s 20 years of age. He hasn’t touched him. He hasn’t had a finger on him.”
Motherwell’s players claimed referee Thomson asked Scott Sinclair if he dived for the panlty after he’d already awarded it.
Centre-half Peter Hartley said: “I don’t want to cane the ref as he has a job to do but he has made the wrong decision. He has actually asked Sinclair if he dived or not after giving the penalty. It is very bizarre for a referee to say something like that.”
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