Livingston manager David Martindale was left baffled after the Lions were not given a late winner at Morton when Michael Nottingham’s header appeared to cross the line.

The assistant referee David Roome and referee Euan Anderson ruled the ball did not cross the line after cannoning down off the cross bar. But the Lions had only themselves to blame for spurning a rash of gilt-edged chances with Andrew Shinnie striking the upright and Matt Clarke missing an empty net.

As it was, a penalty from Morton’s Owen Moffat pegged back an earlier opener from Scott Pittman for the home side. But Martindale fumed: “The header is actually in. I will not tell you who I spoke to, but most of the Morton players, including the one who wears gloves said it was in.

“We looked at the video footage we have got and it was in. It is difficult for officials to get that right without technology.

“I don’t want to sound like a smart ass, but I don’t know how we did not win that.

“I thought we had some fantastic opportunities across the course of the game to take the three points. I feel it was two points dropped but I don’t want to be disrespectful. I can only sit here as the Livingston manager. The boys are feeling sorry for themselves. I know why we lost the game. I think we were unlucky.

“You are looking to try and dominate the ball and dominate possession. By doing so, you hope you will create chances. There was a lot of boxes ticked today. But for one moment defensively, we did not tick that box, we did not have a lot to do defensively. We created a lot of very good chances.

“You know what, I think we have a penalty in the first half.if we have got VAR. I sat here moaning about VAR last year. I am moaning about not having it this year.

“There are not many managers in my position who have been there and coached with it and now not coaching with it. If you ask me, would I have VAR? Probably. I don’t like the cost.

“There is a penalty decision I think we get in the first half. There is a goal we don’t get. I do understand in real time, it is hard for officials in real time. It is hard in the modern game to get every decision right. They need help. Surely there is a cheaper way of doing it in the other leagues? If I am sitting in the dugout looking at it, how can you not be a fourth official in the stand with an iPad looking at it? It is not going to cost a lot of money.

“On the balance of play, we can feel sorry ourselves. I can caveat that with if you don’t do your defensive play, you’re not going to win games of football.”

Martindale visibly perked up when discussing the debut of new signing Stevie May, on loan from St Johnstone, with the manager praising the professionalism of the striker.

“One of the main attractions for me with Stevie May as he works for the team,” he said.

“It is to his own detriment at times. What he has lost getting a bit older in the Premier league, he has gained in the Championship. I think he has got pace. I think it really helped us today. There are certain positions on the park you should be screaming. It was a number nine performance today and I have to say a thing. It is much easier because you are not coaching within the game.

“Stevie brings a wealth of experience and a wealth of game intelligence. He works very hard off the ball. He has got a turn of pace at this level to cause problems. I didn’t find myself coaching him today. I focused on somebody else.”

Match report: Ian Steven

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