Motherwell’s manager, Stuart Kettlewell, voiced his disappointment following a controversial VAR decision that overshadowed his team’s 3-0 loss to Celtic at Fir Park. The incident occurred late in stoppage time when Motherwell defender Liam Gordon was initially shown a yellow card by referee David Dickinson for a challenge on Celtic substitute Adam Idah. However, a subsequent VAR review upgraded the booking to a red card, citing that Gordon’s studs were up as he made contact with Idah’s ankle.
Kettlewell argued that the decision was overly severe and believed a yellow card would have been sufficient punishment. He emphasized that while replays may look incriminating due to still images, the context of Gordon’s actions should have been considered. “I just feel it’s so harsh to give the red card,” Kettlewell remarked. He further explained that Gordon was at full stretch without significant force behind the challenge and expressed frustration with the final outcome.
With Gordon facing a suspension that could rule him out of the upcoming League Cup semi-final against Rangers, Kettlewell mentioned that Motherwell might appeal the decision. He lamented the implications of the red card, particularly given how the match had unfolded up to that point.
Reflecting on the game, Kettlewell expressed disappointment with the result but praised his team’s strong start, highlighting that they hit the woodwork twice in the opening 10 minutes and managed to contain Celtic for much of the first half. He described the first Celtic goal as somewhat lucky, coming off a deflection that allowed McCowan to score. The second goal proved to be a turning point, leading to a more aggressive approach from Motherwell, who introduced additional strikers in an effort to claw back into the match. Ultimately, Kettlewell acknowledged Celtic’s depth and quality, noting the difficulty in containing them as the game progressed.
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