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Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Motherwell 1 Celtic 2: Stephen O'Donnell gives his take on Reo Hatate incident as he discusses 'iffy' VAR

Motherwell defender Stephen O'Donnell admits players now feel compelled to go down if they feel contact to highlight incidents for VAR reviews.

The defender clashed off the ball with Celtic's Reo Hatate during last night's 2-1 defeat after making a perfectly-timed challenge in the box.

Hatate appeared to have kicked out at O'Donnell after the ball was cleared and Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly came rushing from his goal to indicate a kick to referee Willie Collum.

The incident was subject to a VAR review, which decided there was no case to answer.

O'Donnell says he is content with that decision but reckons with VAR missing some flashpoints, players need to do what they can to ensure moments are properly reviewed, as he pointed to a clear penalty box foul on Ricki Lamie in last month's defeat to Aberdeen that was missed.

Asked for his take on the Hatate incident, O'Donnell said: "I got a decent tackle in and then I don't know if he kicked me or pulled me.

"I'm not sure what happened but I felt contact.

"They tell you you need to go down because that helps VAR look at it, so that's what I did.

"VAR looked at it and said there was nothing in it. That's not a problem, that's what it is good for.

"It's quite hard when you are playing in the game to know the level of contact or the aggression that is in it.

"I just highlighted it and that is what we are told to do.

"A couple of weeks ago Ricki Lamie didn't get a penalty because he didn't go down.

Motherwell were denied a penalty for this challenge on Ricki Lamie by Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart (SNS Group)

"Seemingly, these things help so I've got no issues. If there was nothing, there was nothing.

"That's what VAR is there to check for."

VAR and the officials who operate it have come in for criticism since the technology was launched in Scotland on October 21.

Last night's VAR official, David Dickinson, has seen some of his calls questioned, after deciding not to upgrade Josh Morris' yellow card to red for a wild lunge on Carl Starfelt and ruling out an exquisite Jota goal for offside.

O'Donnell accepts there will be issues during its infancy but insists Motherwell need to focus on winning games themselves, rather than relying on technology to help them win games.

He added: "VAR is going to have teething problems.

"I think it is great that it is in the game and there will be decisions that will be a wee bit iffy, but it is new and we want it in Scottish football.

"Over time it will get better and we need to make sure we aren't relying on decisions, especially right now, when VAR is going to have some teething issues.

"We need to try and get points without any help."

The Steelmen have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions and sit ninth in the Premiership going into their final game before the World Cup break, away to St Johnstone on Saturday.

But O'Donnell says they can take positives from their showing against the Hoops.

"We had a couple of chances in the first half but we didn't really lay a glove on them until the second half, which was much better," he said.

"But we still struggled to convert bits of pressure.

"It's always good when you are playing Celtic or Rangers and they are making substitutes to see out the game. It's a compliment, but it is just disappointing we didn't get something.

"They are a good side and they showed their quality. They are relentless.

"But we competed well with them, especially second half, and hopefully if we put in a performance like that on Saturday it should be a positive result for us against St Johnstone.

"But we didn't get points this time and we need to start getting some."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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