'I’m fed up': Stuart Kettlewell ‘sick’ of VAR after Motherwell lose to Aberdeen

Stuart Kettlewell says he is “sick” of VAR after two big calls went against his Motherwell side in their 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen.

Lennon Miller looked to have cancelled out Leighton Clarkson’s opener when he drilled home with five minutes remaining in the first half, but the goal would be ruled out handball after a lengthy check.

Things would get worse for the Steelmen in the final seconds after Graeme Shinnie’s handball inside the box went unpunished – ensuring the Dons left Fir Park with all three points.

Motherwell’s hopes of claiming an unlikely place in the top six have now all but evaporated following the gap between them and Hibernian in sixth being extended to six points with three games remaining before the split.

“I’m sick, fed up of it, I honestly am. I did say this previously so I am being consistent,” Kettlewell said.

“It’s not just emotional because we’ve lost a game of football.”

The Motherwell boss is adamant that consistency has to be the priority when it comes to ensuring that crucial decisions are made correctly.

He referenced a similar goal his side conceded against Ross County earlier in the season that was not ruled out despite similar circumstances in the build-up.

“We had a situation against Ross County where the ball is controlled quite clearly by the arm,” he added.

“The hand is above the head, the player controls the ball, it falls to him he shifts it inside the pitch and it results in a goal.

“We were told categorically that because it wasn’t the goalscorer that we don’t look at that again. That that’s not a reason for chalking off the goal if the referee has missed it.

“My question is why it didn’t have an impact on the goal previously when we concede one but seems to when we score a goal?“

Interim Aberdeen boss Peter Leven praised the quality of his team’s performance as they grafted to victory.

The Dons have lifted themselves to ninth in the cinch Premiership table after winning their first league game in 12 and recording their same clean sheet in as many fixtures.

They opened the scoring after enjoying a brighter start to be proceedings, and remained resolute in defence as Motherwell threw everything at them in search of an equaliser.

“It was a relief, but I thought the boys played really well and I was glad for the clean sheet,” Leven said.

“The boys certainly battled, but listen, they played as well.

“We spoke about it during the week, I told them our best chance of getting the win was to play football and use our strengths.

“I thought we were brave, we didn’t panic and I thought we controlled the game.”