Saints lose to Dundee United after late VAR calls at Tannadice
There was VAR drama at Tannadice as Saints were defeated 2-0 by Dundee United in the William Hill Premiership.
The hosts gained a late lead through Kevin Holt, who was awarded a penalty after VAR prompted referee Matthew
MacDermid to assess the incident on the pitchside monitor. The Saints were subsequently reduced to ten men after
Marcus Fraser was sent off in injury time following another VAR intervention, before United’s Emmanuel
Adegboyega sealed the win.
Despite Saints having more possession and spending more time in the United half, the hosts produced the better
opportunities in the early stages. Sam Dalby should have given Jim Goodwin’s side the lead when he sprinted away
from the Saints defence to meet a ball over the top from Will Ferry. The attacker advanced into the area, one-on-one
with Ellery Balcombe, but shot way over the crossbar.
On 13 minutes, United goalkeeper Jack Walton received a yellow card for a late foul on Toyosi Olusanya, who had
run on to a Balcombe cross down the left channel. The United goalkeeper sprinted from his line but wiped out the
Saints forward, prompting referee Matthew MacDermid to hand him a yellow card. A brief VAR review determined
whether the tackle warranted a red card for serious foul play, but the verdict was that the booking was justified.
The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock when Ferry played a wonderful one-two with Dalby and sprinted away
from the Saints’ defenders. His shot went crashing off the post.
Ex-Saint Declan Gallagher made a crucial block soon after the half-hour mark to deny the Buddies the lead. Tanser’s
shot appeared to be off target, but if Gallagher had not intervened, it would have found Killian Phillips, who was on
hand to turn in from close range.
The Saints were dominating the game as the half progressed, but they weren’t producing enough to scare Walton in
the United goal. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Conor McMenamin’s cross appeared to come off the
arm of Adegboyega, prompting strong calls for a penalty. VAR took a cursory glance but determined the referee did
not need a second look, and play proceeded.
Following the restart, United created the better openings. Glenn Middleton’s low pass reached captain David
Babunski early in the second half, but his body shape was just wrong, and he turned wide. Middleton appeared to be
the provider again when he found Holt on the edge of the box, but the defender shot wide. The home side
The Saints’ first serious chance of the second half came at 63 minutes. Olusanya discovered Tanser inside the area,
and his cross was deflected by Walton. Adeboyega could only turn it out as far as Olusanya, who had created the
space to take his shot. Holt extended a crucial foot to prevent the goal-bound attempt.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Dundee United was handed their first penalty of the game. When United
substitute Louis Moult was knocked down in the box by Marcus Fraser, VAR summoned referee Matthew
MacDermid to the video screen. The referee pointed to the spot following the check, and Holt slotted home from 12
yards to start the scoring.
United were granted a second penalty in the final minute of normal time, with Fraser again punished after Moult
tumbled in the box under pressure from the Saints defender. The referee was summoned once more to the screen,
this time issuing a red card to Fraser for denying a scoring opportunity.
Balcombe stopped Holt’s penalty this time, turning it behind with two firm hands. However, the hosts would add a
second from the resulting corner. Balcombe could not gather the original header from Moult, and Adegboyega
stknocked in from close range
Leave a Reply