Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was stunned that Vicko Sevelj’s first half goal was chalked off in his side’s 1-0 Scottish Cup Dundee derby defeat,
He felt referee Matthew MacDermid whistled too early for a foul on goalscorer Simon Murray by Declan Gallagher – a foul that the irishman felt that should never have been given – and it stopped VAR intervening. A frustrated Goodwin asked: “Why not play it out and then whistle?What’s VAR for? Surely play out the attack and then bring it back. If he thinks it’s a foul at the time, then go and check it. There’s no way in the world that’s a foul. There’s no way in the world one of my players is getting a penalty for that contact on the Dundee player. It’s pathetic.
“I got a brief chat with him at half-time, but we’re limited to what we can get out of him. At the end of the game, what’s the point? The damage is done. I just don’t understand why he blows the whistle.
“We understood that they’ll let the play continue and then if it is a foul or clear and obvious, then they’ll give it. There’s absolutely no way in the world that’s a foul. No way.”
The United boss was also disappointed that they lost a cheap goal from a set play, as Simon Murray netted in the first minute. Goodwin added: “But obviously the disappointing thing for us is the way that we start the game.
“You cannot concede in the manner that we do. You can’t give good opposition a goal head start.
“This season we’ve had to come from behind on numerous occasions. We have picked up good results in the league. But tonight, unfortunately, we just didn’t carry that bit of luck that’s required.”
Meanwhile Delighted Dundee boss Tony Docherty celebrated his first derby win and admitted this famous Scottish Cup win was redemption for their league defeat earlier this month. The Dark Blues claimed their first cup win over Dundee United at Dens since 1956.
It was the first one for the Dundee manager and he was delighted as his team booked a place against Airdrie in the fifth round and erased the pain of losing 2-1 at home to United in the new year derby. Docherty said: “I think somebody said to me it’s 69 years since Dundee beat Dundee United in the Scottish Cup. So that’s a huge achievement.
“It’s my first Derby win. I’m delighted. Absolutely delighted.
“I think, you know, I’d said before our run, our last five games, we’d won two difficult away games at St Mirren and St Johnstone “We’d had two draws against the Old Firm out there. And the one in that run was Dundee United, where we lost a last minute goal.
“I think I said to the players we had to try and atone for that and show a bit of redemption. I think you could see that in the performance.”
Docherty admitted the result was even more remarkable as he had eight first-team players out. He added: “I think you could see the players were, again, I’ve said it about them before.
“You know, they go over and above for each other as teammates. Because remember, going into that game tonight, it’s still five centre-halves that are injured.
“You know, and eight in total. Josh Mulligan added to that. But the other ones, you know, it’s just shoulder to the wheel all the time.
“I can now see real development in them in terms of their mentality and their resilience. I’m really pleased for them.”