Derek McInnes has called on referees to up their game amid recent controversy in the Premiership.

The Kilmarnock manager insists the Scottish FA's officials need to start justifying why VAR was implemented to help them.

Killie were left incensed on Saturday after a blatant handball by St Johnstone's Andy Considine was missed in their 1-1 draw at Rugby Park.

On-field official Chris Graham opted not to award a penalty despite having a clear view of the incident. After a three-minute check, VAR concluded the game could continue with no further action taken.

The Ayrshire outfit contacted the SFA to make their disapproval of the situation known, as revealed by Herald & Times Sport.

However, McInnes insists he's tired of receiving apologies from the refereeing department, as the Killie boss called for fairness and competence.

"I think it was incumbent on the club to do that, we feel really hard done to," he explained. "We are paying a lot of money for the technology, I was a big champion of VAR and all the managers got behind it.

"We wanted to help referees, we want the league to be as modern as possible and make those improvements.

"Other than the offside law, where you can see categorically there's an improvement on these decisions, there are still the usual debates, it's people's perceptions of incidents that need to improve.

"I had another conversation with the refereeing department on Monday, but I don't want apologies, I am fed up getting apologies.

"I want fairness, I want competence, I want people making the right decisions - not just for my team but for everyone.

"I feel that we were so harshly treated at the weekend and it's not the first time. 

"I think we are in danger of the younger group of referees coming through getting to used to refereeing a game with VAR there now. They need to get back to being good referees, making their decisions there and then.

READ MORE: Kilmarnock raise VAR concerns with SFA after handball flashpoint

"The referee on Saturday should see that it was a clear handball from [Andrew] Considine, that should be seen by all the officials there and not having a referee thinking 'well, it looks like a penalty, but VAR will tell me soon if it is or not,' because then you're relying on the capabilities of the guy in the VAR room.

"We have been so badly let down on that instance. I am so angry about it and it's time that the refereeing department upped their game and start justifying why there was this demand and need for VAR to come in."

One major positive from Saturday's match was the emergence of David Watson. 

The 18-year-old made his first league start for the club, having enjoyed outings in the Viaplay Cup previously. 

The Prestwick teenager was a standout for the Ayrshire side, dictating the play, winning the ball back, and driving at opponents. 

McInnes was delighted to see him flourish and believes Watson could be a future captain of the club.

He told KillieTV: "I think everyone likes to see a young one coming through. 

"David's one that, when we came in last January, we had him training with the first team every day. We feel he needs to be exposed and stretched. His improvement from that is clear. 

"He's playing against good players every day in training. That in turn brings his game on. 

"What he has got to go along with that is a good natural ability, a brilliant second-to-none attitude and he's so hard working. He's got a lot of attributes to be a proper midfield player.

"He had a wee dip around the turn of the year, but it was always my intention to try and get him in. We didn't want to put him out on loan. We had a few clubs asking about him from League Two and then one from League One.

"We felt he would have a role to play and I think you saw with Saturday's performance how big a role it was.

"Really pleased. I thought he was part of a midfield three that did really well. I think he covers the ground well, he's got a goal in him, he competes, he leaves his foot in to let people know he's there - he's got so many good attributes to be a modern-day midfielder. 

"He captains the Under-18s and the reserves. I'm sure that if he keeps working hard, he will eventually captain Kilmarnock's first team.

"He should be really pleased with his performance. There's more to come from him. It was a good team performance and David played a big part in that."