Pundit Michael Stewart reckons there was no "intent" in the flashpoint that saw Aberdeen star Ross McCrorie shown an early red card against St Mirren.
McCrorie was attempted to burst down the right flank during the opening exchanges of the clash at Pittodrie when he was involved in a collision with Charles Dunne, with the Dons' defender initially being shown a yellow card by referee Grant Irvine. However, Gavin Duncan sent the official to the monitor from the VAR room and the punishment was upgraded to a red card with just seven minutes on the clock.
St Mirren would go on to win 3-1 as the misery continued for the Aberdeen fans in the wake of Jim Goodwin's sacking, with the club dropping to seventh in the Premiership table. The McCrorie decision proved to be pivotal in the game, but former Pittodrie defender Richard Foster initially stated on BBC Sportscene it had been the right call to send the Scotland U21 cap off.
Asked whether it was "harsh or foolish" by host Steven Thompson, Foster said: "I think it's a bit of both. Dunne comes across him and does block him, and he is more throwing out his arm and trying to get beyond Dunne.
"But when you raise your arm and hit the guy in the eye socket you are going to get a red card. Do I think that McCrorie is that kind of player that he means it? No I don't, but he has raised his arm. He does put his arm up, and that's always going to be given as a red card."
However, Stewart didn't agree with the call. He said: "I can understand how the officials have given it but I don't think it is a red card. I think initially you can quite clearly see Dunne has blocked him off. I think initially he is trying to narrow his arm off to get past him and Charles Dunne's arm is in the way, and he is trying to throw his arm up to get over him.
'He quite clearly catches him, there is no doubt about it. I don't think there is any intent at all. I think it was the wrong call but I can appreciate the officials when they look at that they may well think it was a red card."
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