STEPHEN ROBINSON last night blasted Craig Thomson for ‘ruining the game’ in yesterday’s 0-0 draw with Celtic after the whistler controversially sent off a Motherwell player for the fifth time this season.

The official flashed a red card at Motherwell’s Cedric Kipre 41 minutes into the game at Fir Park after a collision with Scott Brown in the middle of the park. The pair came together on the deck with Brown pushing his opponent before the French defender flicked out a leg in the direction of the Celtic captain. Brown went down clutching his leg as Thomson showed no hesitation in reaching for his top pocket to send off Kipre for the second time this campaign.

Prior to yesterday’s match, Scotland’s top referee had previously dismissed four Premiership players this season. All of them have been in Motherwell colours, including three in the one game against St Johnstone before Charles Dunne’s red was eventually rescinded on appeal.

Robinson was quick to praise the application of his team who played admirably for most of the game with 10 men to secure a deserved point, but he could not hide his frustration at the pivotal moment of the game.

“I think everybody in the room here knows that it wasn’t a sending off,” said the Motherwell manager “I know you all know that.

“Two people brush together. If there had been two yellow cards out of it you might’ve thought it was harsh.

“It’s petulance from both of them. Scott Brown gives him a little shove, Cedric brushes his calf against him. I’ve seen it this time and I’m 100 per cent certain of that. It wasn’t a red card.

“I have to put my arm around him [Kipre]. He’s distraught. I think we all felt we could go and take the game to them again in the second half. That’s the disappointing bit.

“The decision ruined the match as a contest. There were two good teams going for it and we ended up having to sit back which was inevitable against a team of that quality.”

“Five red cards from the same referee, and he’s not sent off another Premiership player off, you take out of that what you will. I’m not saying anything.”

When asked if Motherwell will be appealing the red card, he added: “Once I sit down and look at it, I know it certainly wasn’t a stamp as was being indicated.

“If that was the reason for the red card then it certainly wasn’t that.

“But I’ll sit down with the powers that be while me and Alan Burrows will speak with the board and we’ll see where we take it.

“I’m absolutely proud of my players after that performance. Our game’s always seem to get overshadowed by decisions.

“I’m absolutely proud of each and every player….I thought we were excellent in the first half.”

Robinson’s opposite number Brendan Rodgers admitted he felt some sympathy for his Northern Irish compatriot over the call, but stopped short of saying the referee made the wrong decision.

He said: “I can probably see a wee bit why he [Robinson] would feel it isn’t. Initially the reaction was that I thought it was a foul.

“Browny looks like he’s getting up, sort of pushing the guy to get up. Then I think the guy’s intent was to kick out.

“The only thing I would say is that Craig Thomson is right up level with it by the time the incident happens, he’s looking straight in at it.

“I suppose it’s like a boxer - if he throws a punch and it doesn’t hit, does that mean it’s not right? Maybe that’s what Craig was seeing. He’s gone to lash out and has caught Browny a little bit, maybe not what you would expect to get sent off for.

“But Craig must have been looking at the intent of it.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers revealed Scotland will be without Kieran Tierney for the upcoming friendlies with Costa Rica and Hungary after picking up a calf injury in training. He was missing during yesterday’s stalemate and the manager said:“He had a slight issue with his calf towards the end of last week. It wasn’t quite right. He won’t be going with Scotland.”