St Mirren boss declines to comment on referee

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson refused to “give the limelight” to referee Eddie Smith after a controversial decision cost his side a point at Celtic this afternoon.

Smith sent off Will Haining and awarded a penalty to Celtic after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink tumbled under pressure from the St Mirren defender.

Haining did not appear to initiate contact with the Celtic striker, who tried to hold off his opponent before sliding a shot past the post.

Barry Robson’s unconvincing 62nd-minute penalty was enough to earn the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions a 1-0 victory in their opening game.

But, in a week when referees secured a review of their pay after demanding at least £800 per SPL game, MacPherson chose his words carefully.

“There is no point in speaking about referees – they like the attention,” MacPherson told BBC Radio Scotland.

“I think other people need to comment on it because people are watching how managers react.

“When you hear of referees’ summits with managers’ pictures up on screens, talking about individual managers, you shake your head and wonder what is going on in the game.

“But I refuse to comment and give the limelight to the referee.

“I will talk about St Mirren players. I thought the St Mirren players were outstanding from the first minute to the last.”