Stephen Robinson makes technology call after Motherwell suffer double blow

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson insists Hearts’ Fir Park winner would not have stood if instant video replays were available to referees after Trevor Carson suffered a “horrendous” injury.

The Motherwell goalkeeper came off worse in a challenge with Uche Ikpeazu following Carl McHugh’s short passback and Steven Naismith capitalised on the loose ball to sweep home the only goal in the 28th minute.

Carson was immediately carried off with a number of gashes in his ankle after his clearing leg caught Ikpeazu’s studs and the Northern Ireland international could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Robinson absolved referee Bobby Madden of blame but called for technological assistance for match officials.

“Listen, we all thought it was a 50-50, including Bobby,” he said. “I have got the benefit of watching it back four or five times and Trevor clearly gets the ball. Big Uche, I have to say there was no intent whatsoever, but his momentum takes him all the way through and we potentially have a goalkeeper with a broken ankle or a broken leg.

“He clearly wins the ball before Uche actually makes contact with him and it ricochets.

“First and foremost we shouldn’t have passed the ball back, it’s an individual error that we can prevent, so it’s not a blame game. If I was Bobby Madden I’d probably have given the exact same decision because of the pace of the game.

“Until we get a wee bit of help for everybody, those decisions are going to be like that. If that’s in the MLS and they looked back on it, the goal wouldn’t have stood and potentially there’s a card involved. But we could have prevented it.”

On Carson’s injury, Robinson said: “I’m hoping and praying it’s superficial because it looks horrendous at the moment. He’s going for an X-ray and a scan and we will just have to take it from there.”

Carson made his displeasure known over Ikpeazu’s challenge but Hearts manager Craig Levein claimed the goalkeeper should look at his own part in the incident.

“It’s a 50-50,” said Levein, who watched his team move five points clear in the Ladbrokes Premiership from the stand following his recent health scare.

“If it was me I’d be unhappy with my goalie because he came out worse in a 50-50.”

Levein, who confirmed he was close to signing former Sheffield Wednesday midfieder Sean Clare, added: “I thought it was a very fair challenge. Both boys went for it with the intent of winning it, it’s just that Uche wanted to win it more.

“It wasn’t feet off the ground, people weren’t sliding in with high feet or anything like that. Uche just wanted it more. They can be unhappy about that all they want but they shouldn’t be talking about Uche.”

Ikpeazue himself said: “I went for the ball. It’s an honest challenge, a 50-50. Hopefully he will be all right. I apologise to him.”