Motherwell boss left frustrated over St Johnstone penalty award in home win

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell voiced his frustration over inconsistent penalty awards, but said his side deserved their 2-1 win over St Johnstone.

The Steelmen were seemingly home and dry at the interval with goals from Tawanda Maswanhise and Tom Sparrow, but that was halved in the second half when a penalty was controversially awarded when Graham Carey's shot struck Andy Halliday at close range.

VAR urged referee Ross Hardie to take a look, and Nicky Clark stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick.

Saints then fell foul of VAR when Jack Sanders was caught bundling in a Carey corner with his hand.

Kettlewell said: "I've seen both back, and categorically I don't think there is any dispute whatsoever in the St Johnstone goal that is chalked off. It was almost a volleyball, two arms, and that's never going to be allowed in football, that's the reason we have VAR, which has worked.

"On the penalty that is given for St Johnstone, we do these briefings at the start of the season, we had a couple last season where we were told that it was such close proximity from the ball.

"Graham Carey has an absolute wand of a left foot, he strikes the ball so well, but I think Andy is maybe two yards away from him when he strikes it, and that would be my argument.

"I don't think there is a possibility of him trying to get out of the way, he tries to get his shoulder towards the ball.

"I'm not going to criticise, it has been given today, bit I wouldn't be surprised if at another point over the course that it's not.

"That's the little bit of grey area that quite clearly comes with handball."

Kettlewell didn't think his side were under the cosh at any point from St Johnstone and were worthy of the three points.

He said: "I felt we were really