Tony Docherty has revealed that Aaron Donnelly has been fined and is receiving pelters from his team-mates after his low-key goal celebration against Celtic.
The Dundee defender scored on Tuesday night at Dens to give his side a dramatic 3-2 lead against his boyhood heroes in a game that eventually ended 3-3. Donnelly’s goal sparked wild scenes among the home fans but the 21-year-old did not celebrate in similar style, simply putting his hands in the air.
The Northern Ireland international’s actions sparked a row, with pundits weighing in to dish the flak, although the player himself admitted he had simply forgotten how to mark hitting the back of the net as he last did so two years ago. However, Dundee boss Docherty insists that Donnelly, who joined the Dark Blues on a permanent deal from Nottingham Forest earlier this month, has not been affected by the furore.
The manager said: “No, honestly, if anything, he’s been absolutely battered by his teammates and fined by his teammates! Simon Murray couldn’t wait to get in and give him a bit.
“When I watch it back as well I do think there is an element of him not knowing what to do when he scores his first goal. But the boys are hammering him, which is great.
“There’s nothing in it, absolutely nothing in it. You couldn’t look at it in a negative way or anything like that. He’s a young kid, he’s come on and what a baptism.
“He’s come up and in his first two games he plays really well in a 1-1 against Rangers and then plays really well and scores what we thought was going to be the winner against Celtic. But he’s getting a ribbing from his mates, and quite rightly so.”
Dundee’s star midfielder Lyall Cameron has been linked with a possible move to Rangers but Docherty insisted there have been no developments on the 22-year-old’s future with all attention focused on Monday’s mouth-watering Scottish Cup derby with Dundee United at Dens. The manager said: “No, it’s all speculation.
“Lyall is a Dundee player and I can understand why he’s attracting attention. He’s been offered a contract, as have other ones. It’s their prerogative to decide what to do. But there’s just speculation with Lyall. At the moment he’s a Dundee player, and he’s fully focused on a Dundee derby.”
There is plenty of motivation for Docherty and his players on Monday as they look to gain revenge for a derby defeat at Dens at the start of this month. However, the manager admitted he is also driven on by last season’s cup exit at Kilmarnock which still hurts.
He added: “It does, absolutely. You start every season and you want to meet your objectives. We’re not going to win a league, with the greatest respect, but we have an opportunity in both cup competitions if things go favourably.
“When we saw the draw coming out of the hat for this one, it’s tough, but you’ve got to win these games if you’ve got any aspirations. I was disappointed in the cup competition last year and this year I’m hoping that we can go as far as we can go.”