Michael Stewart reckons St Mirren should have been awarded a penalty during their defeat to Rangers.

The Buddies were level at 1-1 during their Scottish Premiership showdown when Toyosi Olusanya took a tumble in the box under pressure from Neraysho Kasanwirjo as the striker looked to spin away from the defender and test Jack Butland. However, after the Saints’ man hit the deck referee Calum Scott would pull play back for a foul on Nicolas Raskin on the edge of the box moment before on Greg Kiltie.

Greg Aitken in the VAR room would opt against stepping in to award the spot kick with Philippe Clement’s side going on to score to net a winner through Vaclav Cerny. Unimpressed boss Stephen Robinson felt that the Paisley side had been on the end of some tough decisions in Govan – singling out the penalty flashpoint, telling Sky Sports: “I don’t think there was a decision that went anywhere in our direction.

“I have asked for explanations for them, which I never usually do. They got explained to me but whether I agree with them or not doesn’t really matter.

“We’ve had two brilliant chances in the first half, and arguably there is a penalty in there as well. The explanation (from the referee) was that it wasn’t, so I have to trust that VAR has got it right.”

St Mirren's Toyosi Olusanya is challenged by Rangers defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo
St Mirren’s Toyosi Olusanya is challenged by Rangers defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo

And asked on BBC Sportscene if he agreed that it should have been a penalty against Rangers, Stewart pulled out the angle that he believes should have lead VAR to award the spot kick. The former Hearts and Hibs star said: “The contact is not immediately obvious but there is a close up from low behind where you see Kasanwirjo catches Olusanya as he is spinning.

“And when you are spinning and you are knocked off that is a foul. That knocks him off balance and that should have been given as a penalty kick.”

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