Gannon keen to avoid ref row

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon has revealed self-preservation was behind his vow of silence after Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Hibernian.

Gannon declined to speak to the media after the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match, and told his players to follow his lead, so they would not become embroiled in another refereeing controversy.

Motherwell were clearly unhappy with several aspects of the performance of Iain Brines, who booked Jamie Murphy for diving when he appeared to be brought down inside the Hibs penalty box by Sol Bamba.

The previous weekend Gannon had heavily criticised referee Alan Muir, who sent off two Dundee United players at Fir Park, and the Well boss did not want to incur the wrath of the Scottish Football Association.

"I explained to the club that there was an element of protection in it," Gannon told Press Association Sport. "I didn't want any of our players or our staff or myself caught up in a furore over the standard of refereeing in that particular game.

"Statistically, and the major incidents, suggested you could have raised an argument but there was no point."