Craig Levein: 'Lessons could be learned from Dessers incident'

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein insists that lessons could be learned from Cyriel Dessers’ controversial opening goal in last week’s League Cup clash.

Rangers ran out 2-0 winners at Hampden on Saturday to book themselves a place in the quarter-finals.

But the Nigerian forward’s second-half goal to break the deadlock in Glasgow was initially ruled out by the referee before being given following a VAR check.

Former Scotland boss Levein said after the match that he was left “baffled” by the incident that all but ended their participation in the tournament.

It looked like referee Matthew MacDermid had called a foul by the Gers substitute on Saints defender Jack Sanders at the edge of the box in the 58th minute before the Ibrox forward netted, but after being sent to look at it again on his pitchside monitor the official pointed for a goal.

Suggestions that he did not actually blow his whistle before Dessers struck added to the confusion, although an added-time goal by Gers substitute Ross McCausland confirmed the Ibrox side’s progress.

Speaking on Friday ahead of their Premiership game against Dundee United the Saints boss revealed he was still frustrated but ultimately didn’t want to go over old ground.

He insists that lessons could be learned from the incident but wasn’t convinced that there would be.

He said: “I don’t think people are really that concerned about how frustrated I am.

“There could be lessons learned, but will there be? That is a different question altogether.

“I don’t want to go back over old ground. My thoughts aren’t going to change. Nothing I’ve heard since Saturday has changed my mind on what happened.