Furious Ross County boss Malky Mackay slammed referee Steven McLean and claimed the whistler cost his side as he endured a miserable 50th birthday at Easter Road.
Mackay was celebrating the big five-oh - but it was more ‘oh-no’ as he accused the whistler of missing a blatant foul moments before Jake Doyle-Hayes hit Hibs' opener in their 2-0 win.
The Staggies boss insists the big screens at Easter Road showed Harry Paton was tripped by Rocky Bushiri as he went to block Doyle-Hayes' effort.
And it only served to strengthen his desire to see video replays brought in in time for the new season - something he says would rid the game of 97 per cent of refereeing errors.
Mackay fumed: “The biggest thing that displeased me was the foul for the first goal.
“I think everyone saw it clear as day on the big screen from behind the goals - the angle straight on doesn't see it but the minute it goes behind the goals, you see Bushiri just clipping Harry Paton's heels as Paton goes to block the shot.
“I saw it from the dugout - why would Harry Paton just fall over? It was a huge decision to get wrong.
"I asked the referee about it at the end of the game, I just said, 'it's on the big screen, you'll see it tonight on television'.
“In a nip and tuck game like that, when there's not many chances... they got the goal in a game of few chances, and it means we have to go and chase it, we have to change our system, we have to expose ourselves a bit more, and get caught on the counter.
“That happens for their second goal - take nothing away from a fabulous strike - but that changes the dynamic of the game.
“Decisions like that have to be correct. I genuinely have no idea why Harry Paton would fall over.
“Bushiri looks at him. He steps across and clips his heels. Everyone saw it on the screen.”
Asked if the standard of refereeing in Scotland is good enough Mackay said: “I think VAR will help.
“In England it takes away 97 per cent of mistakes.
“But we swallow it and get on with it.”
County remain 10th but St Johnstone have narrowed the gap to four points ahead of next week’s massive meeting of the sides in Dingwall.
Mackay said: “We are a team that’s going toe to toe with teams in this league and not seen as the minnow.
“Well, maybe we are, but when I put a team out we are as dangerous as the other team.
“We are one defeat in five and seven unbeaten at home. It’s a tough league and people go through runs.
“It’s going to be that until the end of the season and we are going to have to be on our mettle every week.
“I’m confident in the group I’ve got that they are as good as most in this league.”
