Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree believes the introduction of VAR into the local game could help avoid incidents such as the one on Tuesday night which he feels may have cost his team a place in the BetMcLean League Cup final.
The Tyrone side were well in the game, just 1-0 down and dominating a Linfield outfit that had been reduced to 10-men early in the second half before a controversial call was made by referee Steven Gregg in the 70th minute.
Double goalscorer Kyle McClean attempted to play the ball through to partner Matthew Fitzpatrick in attack for the Blues, but Fitzpatrick was in an offside position.
He initially froze, but then began to track the run of McClean who chased his own pass through.
At this stage Fitzpatrick was directly involved in play as he ran across the line between McClean and Swifts goalkeeper Declan Dunne who was unaware of which forward would take control of the ball.
The rest, as they say, is history.
McAree tried to hold his tongue after the game, but his frustration was palpable.
“Just as we got ourselves right into the game, we get done with the second goal” he said.
“Apparently Matthew Fitzpatrick is not interfering with play, but he runs right across the path of Kyle McClean.
“The both of them end up about a yard away from Deccy Dunne and in fairness to Deccy he has no idea who is shooting at that point, is it Fitzpatrick or is it Kyle McClean?
“I don’t honestly know how he’s not interfering with play. It’s disappointing but we have to take it on the chin, we can’t say too much or we end up in trouble.”
Referee Gregg garnered some criticism himself following his performance last Friday evening when Larne defeated Crusaders at Seaview.
On that occasion some parties felt he was too “card-happy” yet seemingly missed an incident in the Larne box where skipper Cian Bolger lunged a leg into the path of Crues striker Adam Lecky sending the frontman to the ground.
So does McAree believe that the incidents bring back the question of VAR in the local game?
“I think it (VAR) would certainly have helped us tonight,” The Dungannon man said.
“I don’t want to talk about the standard of refereeing.
“There are some very good examples of good refereeing in the local game, and there are other examples of not so good refereeing.
“But look, the same could be said of players too. It’s just the overall frustration.
“We have players in there that have given their all and may not get another opportunity to reach a final too often, so they’re hurting.”
The Swifts’ boss does not have long to dwell on the defeat with the visit of Larne arriving on Saturday.
His side have managed to draw both games against the reigning league title holders this season so will take comfort from that and the fact they dominated large swathes of the game against David Healy’s men on Tuesday night.
Despite the defeat, one feels that with such a battling performance, McAree’s new legacy at Stangmore Park may only just be beginning.
