Wednesday 24 September 2014 06:56, UK
Kilmarnock boss Allan Johnston claimed a "big mistake" by referee Steven McLean cost his side dearly in their 1-0 League Cup third-round defeat to St Johnstone at Rugby Park.
In the 78th minute, with the home side trailing to a Brian Graham goal and reduced to 10 men after midfielder Alexei Eremenko was sent off six minutes earlier, substitute Michael Ngoo had the ball in the net from a Jamie Hamill corner.
MacLean, however, blew immediately for an infringement and - despite a few late scares - the visitors held out for the win to go into Wednesday night's quarter-final draw.
Johnston said: "I don't think the sending off changed the game because we still looked like the team that was going to score, even with 10 men.
"But obviously the referee has made a big mistake, because we should have been going into extra-time.
"He has said Josh Magennis fouled the guy who was marking him but we have watched it back on the video and I can't see the foul, there is nothing in it, but he (the referee) didn't want to see it.
"I don't criticise referees and I know it is a big decision but you can't afford to make mistakes like that. It has obviously cost us the result so it is really frustrating."
Asked if he had any complaints about Eremenko's dismissal, Johnston said: "No, the only complaint you could have is just a wee bit of consistency.
"I think (Steven) Anderson got away with a few fouls after being booked and the third official said afterwards that it was because he had fouled a player in another area of the park."
Saints boss Tommy Wright insists there is even more to come from on-loan striker Graham, who struggled to pin down a first-team place at Dundee United.
He said: "Brian has come in and you couldn't ask for any more than three goals in three starts and one appearance off the bench and he will get better as he hasn't played that many 90 minutes over the last calendar year.
"Once we play like we did at the start of the second half and get more supply into the box he is capable of scoring more goals.
"I think he just wants to play at this level, this is the point to prove.
"He didn't get that many opportunities at Dundee United and that is down to (Nadir) Ciftci, he had a tremendous season last season, there is no slight on Brian."
