Airdrie boss Aaron Taylor-Sinclair was left bamboozled after a ‘stonewall penalty’ in the Scottish Cup clash with St Mirren wasn’t given and his valiant side eventually crashed out to the Premiership late on in extra-time.
The Buddies – who won the League Cup in December when they stunned Celtic at Hampden – edged the Championship 2-1 after 120 minutes of football.
But the night could have been very different had referee Kevin Clancy – who did not have VAR in operation to assist him – awarded a penalty which replays clearly showed was a foul by St Mirren’s Richard King on Airdrie’s Jamie Barjonas as he burst into the box.
As it was, a stunning first-half strike from Jacob Devaney was cancelled out by a fine goal by Diamonds strike Euan Henderson in the second half to force the additional period.
And with the tie ticking towards penalties, Stephen Robinson’s side found a winner in the 115th minute when substitute Roland Idowu punished a lapse in concentration from the Diamonds.
Taylor-Sinclair was delighted with his side’s showing against top-flight opposition, but the penalty controversy was a bitter pill to swallow.
He said: “About 50 people have told me it was a penalty, but it’s just one of those that we’ll have to move on with.
“We’ve just competed with the League Cup winners and a top-six side, so there are lots of positives to take.
“I just have sense of pride in the lads for what they put in over the 90 minutes and extra-time.
Airdrie’s Euan Henderson (R) celebrates with Adam Devine (L) after scoring to make it 1-1
“The boys are obviously devastated in there, but that should give them great belief going into the next few games.
“The goal comes from us not being setup right from a free-kick so it is those small details that cost us.
“In the first half we have a stonewall penalty as well.
“At half-time it was about keep doing what you are doing and the boys were great in the second half.
“It was a well-worked goal we got – and that’s Hendo on 18 goals for the season now, so he should be happy with that – and then I thought we looked like the team that was going to go on and win it at that point.
“That’s the boys’ third game in six days, plus extra-time. The boys have given me everything since I came in so I can’t fault them on that.
“It is just a lapse of concentration from a long ball forward that costs us, but it is a good finish from them, to be fair.”
Buddies boss Stephen Robinson said: “The game should have been out of the way in the first 20 minutes. We could have been three or four up but we tried to walk the ball into the net. Ultimately, we didn’t finish the game off and it is always nervy when you don’t do that.
“We are into the quarter-finals and that is all that matters. You have to find a way in cup competitions.
Airdrie must dust themselves down for another Friday night clash under the lights at New Broomfield, as they host Championship leaders St Johnstone next, on February 13.
