Frustrations spill over as Hibs manager Jack Ross is riled by referees' lack of understanding

Hibs left Perth with plenty of frustrations but no points as they lost out to a dogged and confident St Johnstone side buoyed by their Betfred Cup success.
Hibs manager Jack Ross with referee David Dickinson following his booking during the Premiership loss to St Johnstone . Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS GroupHibs manager Jack Ross with referee David Dickinson following his booking during the Premiership loss to St Johnstone . Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group
Hibs manager Jack Ross with referee David Dickinson following his booking during the Premiership loss to St Johnstone . Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group

Still trying to elbow their way into the top six ahead of the upcoming Premiership split, the McDiarmid Park side grabbed an early goal and then held on zealously to stymie their opponents and bag all three points.

And the sense of annoyance was fanned by a late refereeing decision that bemused the visiting manager.

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In the build up to the game Ross had spoken about the need for greater respect and dialogue between managers and officials but there was a further fracturing of that relationship when Hibs’ Christian Doidge was denied what his gaffer felt was an obvious foul late in the game. His protestations eventually earned him a yellow card from referee David Dickinson.

“If I deserved to get booked, I deserved to get booked. But what I would say is that in empty stadiums I hear players saying a whole lot worse to referees regularly through a game.

“But managers are obviously I guess held more accountable and to a different standard with less leeway around what they can say.

“I’m not perfect, the officials aren’t perfect. But I just think there could be an understanding that you get frustrated and sometimes I’ll be right and sometimes I’ll be wrong, same with them.

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“But, I think when you get to injury time and you’re frustrated that there’s no award of an obvious free kick at the edge of the box, the referee might understand a manager getting frustrated. But so be it.

But he was baffled by the fact he was given two separate reasons as to why not set piece was awarded.

“I got a couple of explanations; one out on the pitch that he didn’t think it was a foul and then inside he explained he was playing advantage. So, by now, he might have decided what one it was.

“I know people might not think it a big deal but it was a pretty obvious free kick for a foul on Christian Doidge for me and at that time in the game it’s a chance for us to have a shot on goal or put the ball in the box.”

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