Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes hits out at VAR after Corrie Ndaba's red card decision

The defender saw red on 73 minutes as Killie were pegged back from two goals up to draw 2-2 with Hibs

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes blasted the decision to send-off Corrie Ndaba and insisted the defender's dismissal shouldn't even have warranted a yellow card.

The hosts were 2-1 up at home to Hibs when the full-back saw red on 73 minutes for a challenge on Jair Tavares that was originally deemed a bookable offence before Grant Irvine was asked to have a look at he VAR monitor.

That led to the decision being overturned and upgraded to red with Killie then conceding a few minutes later and having to settle for a draw - but left the gaffer dumbfounded.

He said: "Corrie was in line with me and he has won the ball. He’s low, he’s not reckless and the referee is three yards away. He was in an unbelievable position and he has deemed it a yellow.

“I was disappointed he booked him because I thought he had won the ball. For Nick Walsh and VAR to get involved in that, I find disappointing and strange. Unless there is a different angle I've not seen, it’s not dangerous or violent.

“He’s not high, he’s not going in at excessive speed or going in to hurt the boy. I don’t even think it’s a yellow card. The ref did and that should have sufficed."

Killie opened the scoring on 25 minutes both against the run of play and in fortuitous circumstances as Dylan Vente headed a Danny Armstrong cross beyond his own keeper before the lead was doubled early in the second half through Matty Kennedy.

Armstrong's delivery once again caused the problems with Kennedy sneaking in at the back post to roll the ball beyond David Marshall.

A majestic finish on 66 minutes from Joe Newell started the turnaround with the midfielder volleying home with the aid of a kiss off the underside of the crossbar. The contest took a further swing seven minutes later with Ndaba's dismissal before Hibs completed the comeback through Myziane Maolida.

McInnes conceded the visitors may well have dragged themselves back and earned a draw anyway - but is adamant the red card gave them a helping hand along the way.

He added: "It changes the course of the game. HIbs might have been good enough to get something out of the game, Joe Newell scores an unbelievable goal and it gave them a lifeline.

“But the red card also gave them a bigger lift. Whether VAR has gone for or against me, I have always said the same thing - let the referee ref the game. Don’t get involved unless you really need to - and I have not seen that with this challenge.

"This wasn’t what VAR was meant for. The referees are not being referees any more."

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