Jim Goodwin vents Dundee United frustrations over referee and VAR decisions as red card leaves boss miffed

Jim Goodwin was left unhappy after referee and VAR decisions against Dundee United in their clash against Hearts.

A Pierre Landry Kabore double and Alexandros Kyziridis’ effort claimed a 3-0 victory on the road for Derek McInnes’ top of the Premiership table Jambos. Amar Fatah was sent off after a VAR review for a late challenge on Birmingham City loanee Marc Leonard and the Hearts midfielder was in the thick of another red card incident later in the game.

Panutche Camara motioned his head towards Leonard and was shown a red card, with Hearts already in full control of proceedings. Goodwin was left miffed with how the red cards came about after incidents involving the star signed from Birmingham City in January but admitted the opener was a poor strike to lose.

Why did Dundee United get red cards vs Hearts

He told Sky: “I suppose everything that could have went against us did on the night. I don't think there's a great deal in the game in the first 10 minutes, 11 v 11. Hearts scored what they would consider a really good goal from their point of view, but from my perspective, I think defensively we were really, really poor. The game just, as a spectacle, kind of falls to pieces with the red card for Fatah.

“For me, it's reckless, I don't think it's endangering an opponent, there's certainly no malice there. You're talking about a player that's had probably half a dozen yellow cards in about 75 games. He's not that type of player. He's just overstretched on a difficult pitch and he's caught the Hearts player around about the ankle. I think Amar's heel is on the ground.

“It's not like it's high. Straight red card. I'd love one day for referees when they get called to the monitor, I'd love to see them have the bravery not to go with what the guys see in the studio on VAR, because we see those types of tackles week in, week out. They don't always result in a red card. So, when it goes to 10 men, the game is difficult enough as it is. You're playing against the league leaders and 11 v 11 is hard enough but when you get out to 10 men for the last 70 minutes of the game, it kind of becomes a non-event.

Jim Goodwin on Hearts penalty vs Dundee United

“The second one's a penalty. Again, the Hearts player is really clever in terms of what he does to win that penalty. You could argue, yes, defensively it could be better. But we find ourselves 2-0 down at half-time and we try and get two strikers on, go 4-3-2. We've got nothing to lose at that stage and you're hoping just to get the next goal and try and make things a bit nervy. But then we get the second red card and that's, for me, there's no movement in Kamara's head whatsoever. Yes, he puts it to the side of the Hearts player's face, but there's absolutely no meaning to headbutt or anything like that. I think when the Hearts player watches it back, I think he'll be a little bit embarrassed with his reaction.

“For me, it's not a headbutt. It's not forehead to forehead. There's no motion. Yes, he puts his head to the side of the Hearts player's face. But again, I think the reaction from the Hearts player makes the referee think that there must be more in it than what there is.

“Anybody watching that back, that's not a headbutt, the Hearts player’s went down like he's got a broken nose. There's nothing in it for me. So, yes, that was just pretty much summed up the evening for us. The Fata one, as I said, I think it's a reckless attempt to try and win the ball. He's overstretched. He's not that type of player. Take nothing away from Hearts. They score a good goal when it's 11 v 11, but it's more the way the red cards come about.”