St Johnstone 1-0 Kilmarnock: VAR steals the show as Saints edge Killie in tight encounter
An Ash Taylor own goal is all that separated St Johnstone and Kilmarnock in a low-key meeting at McDiarmid Park. However, key moments were impacted by VAR.
Four minutes in and the game was yet to settle into any kind of pattern, however, Stevie May’s strike deflected in off Ash Taylor’s ankle to give Saints an early lead. A lead which they would hold onto for the remainder of the match, but it was far from plain sailing for the Perth side.
The Ayrshire club came into the match unbeaten in four, so Derek McInnes was within his rights to feel confident that his side would secure victory against the club where his managerial journey began almost 15 years ago.
The statistics show that the game was pretty even with St. Johnstone getting eight shots away and Kilmarnock just one fewer. As for possession, Killie were on top with 62%, but that didn’t necessarily translate into quality with the Saints’ defence coming out on top when the visitors forayed forward.
St. Johnstone and Kilmarnock in action during the cinch Premiership clash (Image: Getty)
It's only in its second week, but VAR has had yet another controversial game. There were two key incidents where on-field referee Craig Napier was helped by the video assistant referee, both involving Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly.
Firstly, he was tumbling to the ground after a cynical lunge from James Brown. Brown was initially shown a red card by Napier, only for it to be overturned and downgraded to a yellow, much to the dismay of the visiting supporters. Shorty afterwards, Kilmarnock had a corner from which Northern Ireland international Donnelly thought he scored a vital equaliser, only for it to be chalked off after another VAR check.
Donnelly drills home the equaliser that was dismissed by VAR (Image: Getty)
St. Johnstone also had their moments in the game with Stevie May unfortunate not to add to his four goals already this season. Despite their back five being generally solid, St Johnstone ‘keeper Remi Matthews lived dangerously at times, having almost put the ball into the back of his own net on two separate occasions.
St Johnstone manager, Callum Davidson said: “It was a game, like the last couple, where I think there's a lot more to come from us.
"The pleasing thing for me is that it's six points from the last two games. There were certain aspects of the first half I wasn't pleased with but we managed to win 1-0.”
Kilmarnock manager, Derek McInnes said: “I think we were good enough to get something. We lose such a scabby goal; it's not even going towards goal - it's going back across the six-yard box and it hits off big Ash [Taylor].
"We scored what I feel is a legitimate goal. I don't see why VAR has to get involved in that. I don't think VAR should be involved in either incident."