Tony Docherty reckons Dundee should have had a second penalty in the defeat to St Mirren.
The visitors had been gifted a route back into the match in the first half after a VAR penalty award for a pull on Lee Ashcroft.
Zach Robinson sent his spot-kick straight into the legs of Zach Hemming before the hosts doubled their lead seconds before the break.
But, Docherty insists Dundee should have had a second penalty with the score finely posied at 2-1 in the second half as Luke McCowan appeared to be pulled back by sub James Bolton.
Referee Colin Steven waved away claims for a penalty with VAR not intervening in that instance.
Docherty said: "I do actually [think it was a penalty], I have watched it back. I think you have got to reward the player for staying on his feet, how often do we condemn players that throw themselves to the ground?
"When you have got an honest player like Luke that tried to maintain his momentum and running through, he is off balance. I thought at least it should have been looked at by VAR.
“I’m disappointed because we didn’t start the game well. St Mirren were the better team by far in the first half.
“We changed shape and were unlucky not to get a point.
“I said to the boys that this league is a punishing league and if you don’t take your opportunities then it will come back to bite you. That’s what happened.
“We had a golden opportunity, probably against the run of play, with the penalty in the first half.
“We’ve got to make sure we score that.
“Everyone misses penalties so I’m not apportioning blame but the message to the players is when we get these opportunities, like Luke McCowan’s in the second half, we’ve got to take them.”
And the Dundee boss insisted his side must become more ruthless and learn from the fine margins in the defeat in Paisley.
“It’s important we learn these lessons quickly and when those chances do come around, we take them.
“Losing the goal so close to half time is something else we need to learn from.
“I hate losing goals from set-pieces and that was a frustration for me, as at 1-0 we had a real chance.
“Scott Tiffoney gave us a spark and I knew he would give a reaction after being left out.
“I’d always planned to bring him on and that will give him a lot of confidence.
“We will analyse our performance and keep working at things until it becomes second nature.
“These things will level themselves out over the season and things will go for us.”
