The Jets controversially went down 1-0 to Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium, courtesy of a Kosta Barbarouses ninth minute goal, when the VAR failed to detect an offside James Donachie in the lead-up.

"I'm still getting counselling," Merrick joked to FTBL.

"I've not been able to watch the game back. To me, there's no point being a sore loser or having sour grapes. Victory won and end of story. We had our chance - we didn't take it, for one reason or another."

Merrick believes the VAR was not to blame for the defeat.

"The goal that's been talked about non-stop and the VAR.... the VAR had nothing to do with it," he insisted.

"Nothing whatsover to do with that decision. The first decision should have been made by the referee, there was deliberate obstruction by offside players. And the second decision before they brought in the VAR was there's three players offside, end of story.

"From a set play, not from open play, it's pretty easy. And now we'll let the VAR sort it, we don't have to make a decision. I don't know what was going through their heads.

"So the VAR got hammered, but I'm a fan of the VAR it was the refereeing I'm not a fan of, especially in that game."