Managers post Falkirk

22/04/17: AJ - "It was really poor from the officials throughout the whole match.

Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston claimed that he did not like making excuses for results and performances but told the media that the referee surely made it hard for himself.

"For a start it was never a penalty. I have seen it again on the video - Sean Murdoch palmed it out and then obviously Hippolyte just falls down and dives. To come in the tunnel and say that is really frustrating.

"It was really poor from the officials throughout the whole match. There was even an offside (decision) at one point from a bye kick. It kind of sums up the performance of the officials today."

Asked about the Falkirk player`s comment on the tunnel, the gaffer replied:-

"I don`t know if he was trying to be smart because our boys weren`t happy. It is poor when you see boys diving, it changes the game.

"I thought we played really well and were in control. That decision changed the game."

The manager was asked if the incident had caused an injury to goalkeeper Sean Murdoch?

"He has been feeling his knee for a couple of weeks but getting through it. To lose two big players with Callum Morris coming off as well - he had a massive lump on his knee but he wanted to try and get through the second half. He thought that he would be okay. Sean was feeling his knee as well and unfortunately the two of them had to go off."

Following the apology made to Brendan Rodgers by referee Don Robertson, can the Dunfermline manager expect a call from Gavin Duncan?

"I asked the referee when I went in to see him if he wanted to see the video. They are not allowed to but I wanted him to realise how big a mistake it was. It was a really poor decision and it has cost us the chance to go on and win the game."

With Morton being held to a draw at home to Ayr United, a Dunfermline win would have maintained the chance to catch the fourth placed club.

"It was a massive game for us today. We were desperate to win it and obviously the sending off wasn`t ideal either. We just got caught with a long ball. Up until that point I thought the boys did really well.

"Nicky Clark had a couple of headers, he scored a really good goal and we looked the team that was going to go on and win the game but decisions like that change games.

"It was his decision, he gave the penalty because he thought that Hippolyte touched the ball first and then Sean caught him. The linesman has got to see that as well because he is in a perfect position. They have got to take part because it is hard for the referee given

"It is hard for a referee with the speed of the game and maybe the angle that he is at. That`s where you are looking for the officials to take part and make decisions as well."

Asked if he thought Lewis Martin`s red card decision could be disputed, the Pars manager replied:-

"We would have to look at that again. It looked as though it probably was a red card from where we were. It was just one ball over the top and we got caught wrong side. They provably got that decision right but probably the only one."

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