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The Courier
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
3 Dundee talking points as penalty controversy denies Dee salvation - what is the point of VAR?
Dundee and drama go hand in hand. Wednesday night's clash with Ross County, though, took that strange marriage to a whole new level. Edging towards safety after a not-so-perfect performance that just about deserved all three points, suddenly the ball flicks Antonio Portales on the hand and all hell breaks loose across Scottish football. Dundee's safety is now not assured, St Johnstone's relegation is now sealed and suddenly Ross County can scramble to safety despite that being their single point gained from the last 24 available. There is more to any season than one moment but some of those moments carry huge weight. That's what happened at Dens Park on Wednesday. Dundee were on the verge of victory, match reports had been completed and County's attack was desperate. Then a Ryan Astley header flicks team-mate Portales on the hand on its way out of the Dundee area. A minor infraction that in past seasons would have spelt trouble for a defender. This season, though, the guidance for referees has been to avoid punishing minor handballs with major repercussions. That is to the credit of the Scottish referee system. It felt like after a chaotic VAR learning curve officials were getting to grips with some things. This handball decision completely flew in the face of that. This was not a penalty. Referees are human and mistakes are made all the time. This is why we have VAR as a safety net. Why it was not used to avoid this farce is incredible. Ref Nick Walsh made his decision too quickly and, in the process, completely dispensed with any of the safeguards VAR provides. If he doesn't give it and it turns out it should have been given, VAR is always there to recommend he reviews the decision. But because the decision could be justified by the absolute mess of a handball rule, VAR would not intervene to over-rule. This grey area of not being wrong enough to warrant a VAR review has left Dundee and St Johnstone in the mire. With a decision this big in a match that effectively decides relegation for clubs and all that can follow, why the referee wasn't given the opportunity to review his decision on the monitor to make absolutely certain of the decision beggars belief. Why do we have VAR if it doesn't pick up bad, bad decisions like this? Aside from the refereeing decision that overshadowed the entire evening, there was another 90-plus minutes of football on show. Dundee had been poor in the first half but held it at 0-0 and then came out far better in the second period, bringing save after save from County goalie Jordan Amissah. The spark in the second period came from a real moment of quality from Lyall Cameron. His throughball for Scott Tiffoney's goal was played to perfection, cutting open the defence and setting the speedy winger away. Tiffoney's finish, too, was excellent. Even amid a poor first half that saw Dundee struggle to create, it was Cameron trying to get things going in midfield. And second half he proved the difference between the sides to follow up his double at Kilmarnock last weekend. Just when Dundee need big players stepping up, Cameron has done that. Though they don't want to lose him, everyone of a dark blue persuasion will be hoping Wednesday was his final game as a Dundee player at Dens Park. If it isn't, that means Cameron's final match before heading to Rangers will be in a play-off to avoid relegation. This, though, was a good way to sign off. And the ovation he got from fans at Dens Park when coming off with four minutes left spoke volumes. Big games have brought big moments from Cameron this week, another one on Sunday would finish his time off at the club nicely. Dundee still have a big job to do. Avoid defeat at St Johnstone on Sunday and Premiership safety will be assured – technically Ross County can win 7-0 and overhaul the Dee after a draw but that's not going to happen. If they are unable to get the job done against already-relegation Saints then they deserve to be in trouble. Approach this game correctly, though, and the prize on offer should focus minds. The anger burning through the entire squad after Wednesday's injustice should fuel them, too. In the grand scheme of things, prior to the Wednesday fixture Dundee would have taken a draw rather than the horror of a defeat. Safety is still in Dundee's hands. They must finally grab it.
The Herald Scotland
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Tony Docherty ‘chapped the ref's door' after Dundee draw with Ross County
Dundee were leading 1-0 thanks to a Scott Tiffoney goal and seemed on course to secure their William Hill Premiership status. But when Ryan Astley headed the ball onto team-mate Antonio Portales' arm, referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot, a decision rubber-stamped by VAR. Ronan Hale converted to salvage a draw for County and move them two points behind Dundee, meaning it will go right down to the wire this Sunday to determine who will be in the relegation play-off. Dundee travel to already relegated St Johnstone and Ross County host Motherwell. Taylor said: 'The manager chapped the ref's door but I don't know what was said. He gave the lads a great speech and got everyone ready for Sunday's game. 'I think it's a great talking point for everyone again after the last couple of weeks so there's no point me saying any more. 'There's confusion and disbelief, but they're a great bunch of boys and they're robust. 'It's in our hands at this moment in time, we're in a good position and if we take care of Sunday's game we'll be fine. 'The positive for us is we asked the lads to be brave, be creative and they did that because we hemmed them in at times.' Ross County boss Don Cowie heaped praise on his players for giving themselves a fighting chance to avoid finishing second bottom. However, the 42-year-old admitted he did not see the incident that led to the penalty. Cowie said: 'I'm not sure, I didn't see an infringement at the time so I wasn't claiming because I didn't see anything. I've not seen it from a really good angle. 'What will probably frustrate Dundee will be the manner – they win first contact and the ball is going out of the box. 'But his arm is out and at the letter of the law, it's probably a penalty. 'I praised our players in the dressing room, we wanted the three points but going into the last game we're still fighting. 'If we play like we did in the first half hour on Sunday… we were brave and aggressive, so if we replicate that and sustain it for longer it will give us a good chance.'
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Docherty & Astley on Dundee derby
Dundee manager Tony Docherty believes Sunday's derby with United is the perfect fixture to turn around the Dark Blues' fortunes. (Record), externalDefender Ryan Astley says Dundee are determined to prove their doubters wrong against United. (Courier - subscription required), externalDundee United winger Glenn Middleton aims to "put things right" in Sunday's Scottish Premiership meeting with Dundee, who knocked United out of the Scottish Cup earlier this season. (Record), externalLee Wilkie, who featured for both Dundee and United, believes Tangerines supporters would milk every moment of winning the derby, should they secure the three points at the weekend and add to the Dark Blues' woes. (Courier - subscription required), externalRead Tuesday's Scottish gossip
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Can 'harsh words' spark Dundee improvement?
Ryan Astley hopes the "harsh words" exchanged after Dundee's humiliation against Hearts prompts a much-improved performance in tonight's trip to Celtic Dark Blues' four-game unbeaten shuddered to a halt as they were thrashed 6-0 last Saturday, and defender Astley said: "We were in on Sunday, we went over it. There was a few harsh words that were needed."We come in on Monday and it was positive, like move forward. It was a blip and we're looking forward to the next game."Every game, you've got to be on it because anyone can beat anyone, and we need to learn from that and not let that happen again."As a team, we always react well to disappointments. We're ready to go there [Celtic Park] and come away with something."Former Dens defender Cammy Kerr, meanwhile, believes a trip to the champions could be the ideal fixture for Tony Docherty's side after the weekend hammering."There's not too much expected of Dundee in going there, but getting a shock result would be obviously massive for them," Kerr told the BBC's Scottish football podcast."It could be the type of games that gets you back on track. All the limelight is maybe on Celtic, with Jota making his home debut, so everything will be stacked against Dundee, but that's sometimes when you can pick up those results and surprise a few people."
