On PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on November 13, the pair questioned how the video assistant had allowed the first-half Steven McLean decision to stand the day before in the 2-0 Gers victory.
Tam McManus was also in disbelief that the award wasn’t overturned, although the former Hibs striker was far more blunt in claiming the young Rangers winger had “dived”.
First McManus said (15m 30s): “It’s not a penalty, Peter; he’s dived. He’s gone down before the goalkeeper; I don’t think he even clips him. I was very, very surprised that was given after looking at it again… It’s nowhere near a penalty kick.”
Martin countered: “I’ve got no problem with McCausland because, at the end of the day, professional footballers say to me time and time again, ‘Go down’. They’re attitude is yours [Lennon’s], Tam’s, and Alan Roughie’s: ‘If I can win an advantage for my team, I will; it’s down to the referee to make the decision’.

“My problem with it, though, Neil, is, how on earth did somebody in VAR look at that and say that’s a penalty?”
Lennon replied, “I totally agree with you… It was clear to me that it wasn’t a penalty. When you slow it down, it looks even worse, even more than a penalty…
“But you’re right, it’s not down to McCausland. What should have happened if you had a strong referee and a strong VAR panel—a yellow card, a free kick for Livi?”
Fallout
This weekend caused more VAR controversies than most, and the penalty award in West Lothian is one of the most contentious.
McCausland got the benefit of a charitable decision for the spot kick, although James Tavernier missed it anyway, but saw his fortunes evened out by an equally debatable call to disallow his first goal for the club for a perceived foul by Abdallah Sima.
As Lennon went on to say, it is not VAR technology itself that is the issue in these instances, but the way officials are using it appears to be getting more obtuse rather than better.
There will be many who do blame McCausland for his role in the penalty, but it does seem to be the officials who are more the subject of ire than the Rangers attacker.
It was an eventful day for the Northern Irishman in his first start for the Light Blues, even if neither of his most notable contributions somehow didn’t end in goals.
Philippe Clement is sure to be hoping the ongoing contract talks between the 20-year-old and the club go the right way, or his window to get the best out of the youngster might not last long.