Aberdeen FC and Hibs penalty escapes baffle Sportscene duo as VAR fails to act despite boxes being ticked

James McFadden and Neil McCann both agree that Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall was incredibly fortunate not to be sent off in the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The side from Leith had taken a lead through a goal from wide man Martin Boyle, only for the Dons to hit back minutes later with an equaliser from Nicky Devlin. Jamie McGrath then put the hosts in front early in the second half, shortly before the controversial incident involving Marshall and Aberdeen talisman Bojan Miovski occured. The North Macedonian pounced on a poor clearance from Will Fish to charge towards the goal, where he was caught by Marshall’s fist after beating the veteran stopper to the ball.

The number nine had to be attended to by the Aberdeen medical team, but following a VAR review, referee David Munro opted not to point to the penalty spot. The decision incensed interim Reds boss Neil Warnock, who described Marshall’s attempt to get the ball as “manslaughter.”

Although they recognised that Marshall did also get a touch on the ball, Sportscene pundits McCann and McFadden both felt that Miovski was unlucky not to win the penalty.

McFadden said: “Marshall gets a contact on the ball but it’s a difficult one for me because if that’s a challenge where a defender gets the ball but follows through on the man, generally you are getting a foul. As a goalkeeper, you are instructed to come and get the ball and if you get a bit of the man as well, that’s fine.

“But I would be looking for a penalty there. Yes David Marshall gets a hand on the ball, but Miovski has done well to get up from that.”

“I actually think Marsh (Marshall) gets the ball because Miovski heads it onto his fist”, McCann added, “He takes a big one on the side of the head and that could have been a real nasty one. Thankfully he was able to get up to his feet again.”

The duo were also unanimous that Aberdeen defender Devlin should have been punished for a handball in his own box in the first half from Jordan Obita’s cross McCann said: “He changes the direction of the ball and makes his body bigger. It ticks a lot of boxes but for some reason, it wasn’t given.

Hibs boss Nick Montgomery felt Devlin got away with one

McFadden agreed and added: “If only we had someone who could look at that again and change the decision? That would be nice. If he was just stood there with his arm out a little bit but wasn’t moving, then you could argue that it was a natural position. But he is moving to his right hand side to try and read the cross and then extends his left arm.

“It is a penalty kick and there is nothing natural about it. He actually moves his arm out towards the ball. I can’t believe that a penalty kick wasn’t given there.”