Stuart Kettlewell praises Motherwell star playing out of position in St Johnstone win as he gives VAR verdict

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Motherwell secured another win in the Premiership on Saturday, this time vs St Johnstone.

Stuart Kettlewell has hailed his deputy in defence after a Motherwell win over St Johnstone - as the boss gives his take on two VAR calls.

The Fir Park side vowed to have no Hampden hangover and managed to do just that, thanks to first half goals from Tawanda Maswanhise and Tom Sparrow. Nicky Clark was handed a penalty in the second half and halved the deficit, following a VAR check. If Motherwell were left cursing the referee tech near the hour mark, it came to their aid in second half stoppage time. Jack Sanders looked to have levelled the game at Fir Park from a corner but it was ruled out for a handball.

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Kettlewell’s side are fifth in the table but only on goal difference, level on points with fourth-placed Dundee United and Rangers in third ahead of the latter’s game with Hearts on Sunday. Next up is Ross County away from home after the international break concludes.

Speaking post-match, the Motherwell manager was full of praise for left-back Steve Seddon, who filled in at centre-back with Liam Gordon, Paul McGinn, Stephen O’Donnell and Shane Blaney all out. The boss didn’t expect to be fielding him there, but his versatility has shown him he doesn’t have a defensive headache.

He said: “I have always been certain he can play there. I wasn’t necessarily thinking we would get to the stage of him playing there. Liam Gordon coming out, losing Shane Blaney to personal reasons, you start to look at Paul McGinn and Stephen O’Donnell, these guys who are out injured.

“For how we want to play and how we work towards playing, it gives us a bit of dilemma. After today it doesn’t, I thought he was excellent, really composed on the ball and he defended manfully. He gave us a real balance on the left side of the back three so delighted for him. He’s had to be patient and he will tell you, he will play anywhere on the pitch to get a game, which is a brilliant example for the young players in the group.”

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The VAR decisions were also assessed by Kettlewell. There can be no complaints over the chopped off goal but the penalty call will split opinion, he believes. Speaking on the game as a whole too, Kettlewell added: “I think you are worried if your goalkeeper is having to pull off saves left, right and centre.

“I didn’t feel that was there. I felt we were really comfortable at 2-0, the nervous energy comes in at 2-1 off the back of the penalty. But we carved out good chances in that. I thought it was a deserved three points.

“I’ve seen both back. I don’t think there is any dispute in the St Johnstone goal that is chopped off. You could argue a bit of fortune but it was almost a bit of volleyball, two arms, it’s never going to be allowed. That is the reason we have VAR.

“The other side, I feel it’s the side of it we will all have a different take or view. One thing I will say on the penalty is we do these briefings at the start of the season. We had a couple last season where we were told it’s such close proximity from the ball. Graham Carey strikes the ball so well and I think Andy is maybe two yards away.

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“That was my argument that I don’t think there is a possibility for him to get out the way, tries to get his shoulder towards the ball. I am not going to sit here and criticise, it’s been given today. But I wouldn’t be surprised if at another point of the season it’s not, so that’s a bit of grey area that comes with the handball.”

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