David Martindale disputes referee decision in St Johnstone match last weekend

Livingston boss David Martindale blasted referee Kevin Clancy after the Lins slumped to a 1-0 loss away to St Johnstone that saw them fall out of the top six.

It was a game of two penalty decisions at McDiarmid Park with the hosts being awarded one in the third minute that was converted by Callum Hendry for the only goal of the game – and one not given for Livi in the closing stages for a clear handball from St Johnstone defender Dan Cleary.

Martindale disputed the decision to award Saints an early spot-kick after Jack Fitzwater had been adjudged to have used his elbow on Callum Hendry, noting both that Murray Davidson had been offside in the build-up and the actual decision to punish Fitzwater was harsh.

However, he was incensed that Clancy had failed to award the Lions a potential life-line in the contest in the dying minutes when Cleary stumbled and used his arm to deflect Andrew Shinnie’s delivery into the box.

Martindale said: “The first penalty, Murray Davidson is offside from the free-kick that comes into the box. He gets the first contact. I think it’s harsh on Fitzy, I think he’s shielding the ball and Hendry goes in and makes the most of it – but it’s offside before that. The linesman is looking straight across the line.

“Everybody in the stadium, including the seagulls knew it was a penalty for us. How we’ve not been given for that, I will never know. I’ve spoken to the St Johnstone players and management team and they all said ‘how did you not get a penalty?”

He added: “The significance of that decision could be massive for this football club. I don’t want to talk to Kevin Clancy, it’s a stonewall penalty. We had one against us against Celtic at our place where Fitzwater is pushing himself back up with his