Fuming Tony Docherty reckons referee Grant Irvine blundered against his Dundee team because Mo Sylla should never have been red card as they collapsed late on against Kilmarnock.
Docherty didn’t think his midfielder should have got a second yellow card for a first half challenge on Matty Kennedy that left the Killie player needing stitches The second booking meant VAR couldn’t intervene and Docherty has insisted that is the second big call Irvine has made against his team. Head of referees Willie Collum called the Dundee manager last month to say Irvine was wrong not to award them a penalty at Ross County. Docherty, who saw his team collapse and lose 3-2, said: “I’ve watched it back so many times.
“First of all I think the referee’s line of vision is impaired by Lyall Cameron. But he’s really quick, he sees the player going down, he’s really quick to get his cards out. He comes out with a red first I think. When I look at it back there is no intent by Mo Sylla. He actually doesn’t see Matty Kennedy at all. He’s elevated his arm to try and win a second header, he’s just won the first one.
“Matty comes from there, and I’ve had a conversation with Matty as well, and he agrees. There was no intent, no recklessness and it should not result in a red card, which massively affected the game.”
Sylla only came back into the team after collapsing the week before at half-time against Aberdeen. Docherty believes there needs to be accountability from the officials.
The Dundee boss added: “I’ve got to say that the game was massively affected by a decision by the referee again. The referee that we had previous weeks that again had made a decision, a wrong decision up at Ross County which was concurred by the supervisor.
“I just think the game absolutely changes on that moment. “There has to be accountability for me. I spoke with the referee on that and I think the VAR were checking for a red, but obviously they went to that. But they can only retract a yellow, which results in Mo Sylla getting sent off.”
Docherty was surprised that Irvine was put in charge of this fixture after his recent error. He stated: “I was actually.
“I was when I saw the match official coming in. That’s something I can’t control. Again I can control and I will, I’ve got to say, I will accept responsibility absolutely for my team’s capitulation at the end there.”