SI AND LOW
STUART KETTLEWELL blasted ref Andrew Dallas for denying basement Ross County a late penalty to leave their survival hopes hanging by a thread.
Simon Murray headed home in the 51st minute for Dundee before the whistler waved away howls from County after Farid El Bakhtaoui clearly seemed to bring down Michael Gardyne at the death.
Victory guaranteed safety for Dundee but second-bottom Partick’s loss to Motherwell means Staggies face at least a play-off to stay up. They travel to play St Johnstone on the final day two points behind Jags but with a superior goal difference.
Co-caretaker boss Kettlewell hit out at ref Dallas for not awarding his men a vital spot-kick.
He said: “We would love to know who is accountable for these decisions because we just get fobbed off all the time.
“I’m not saying it was the reason we lost the game but it was another huge moment in the match.
“It’s the same as Hamilton not getting a red card inside 17 seconds, the same as that ref then sending somebody off that was then appealed.
“These decisions start to spiral out of control – it is a problem.”
Captain Andrew Davies and young winger Davis Keillor-Dunn earned recalls in favour of young loanee defenders Harry Souttar and Max Melbourne, with the hosts switching from three to four at the back.
Dundee restored Randy Wolters and Lewis Spence to the team that edged out Hamilton at the weekend, with Roarie Deacon dropping to the bench and Mark O’Hara missing out.
Staggies started with real intent. Within 90 seconds Billy Mckay had a goal chalked off for offside from Gardyne’s free-kick.
Dundee, pegged back, gave away some careless fouls and, from a 12th minute Keillor-Dunn corner, ex-Hibs defender Liam Fontaine missed a glorious close-range chance, knocking the ball wide after ghosting in at the back post.
County’s desire to get at the Dens Park side involved an element of risk-taking and, after 24 minutes, with Jason Naismith caught forward, Wolters was able to thrash a low shot into Scott Fox’s arms.
It was a similar story 12 minutes later as Paul McGowan’s pass set up Kevin Holt for a ferocious attempt from outside the left of the box that flew low beyond the far post.
There was too much reliance from County on high balls forward to the front pair of Alex Schalk and Mckay who were easily outmuscled far too often by Dundee’s defence.
The classy figure of Glen Kamara, reputedly being closely watched by Celtic, Rangers and Swansea, was also effective in snuffing out County outside the penalty area before the break.
But Staggies came back out for the second half with all guns blazing. Naismith was played wide right and powered in an inviting cross.
Young Keillor-Dunn, unmarked and with goal beckoning, chose to attempt a difficult back-post volley rather than connect with his head – and sent the ball over the bar.
The Highlanders were then dealt a savage blow as Murray nodded in Wolters’s bouncing cross to beat sub keeper Aaron McCarey, on for injured Fox at the break.
Moments later, only a tremendous sliding block by Fontaine stopped Murray striking again.
Gardyne’s cross from the right then found Keillor-Dunn this time leaping to head at goal, only for keeper Elliott Parish to smother down low. News of Motherwell’s opener against Partick lifted the home crowd and County knew at that stage a leveller would take them off bottom.
But Dundee sub El Bakhtaoui went close to grabbing a second but blasted wide with 15 minutes left.
County kept straining every sinew to find a way back into the game but composure deserted them at times.
David N’gog had an incredible chance wriggling free in the box before rippling the outside of the net from eight yards after just coming on.
It might have been all over soon after as McGowan wound on to his left foot and struck the top of the upright from outside the area.
There was fury as Gardyne went down in the box under El Bakhtaoui’s attentions but was booked for diving.
Dundee boss McCann said: “You have to trust the ref but it’s difficult when players are going at pace. We have had some bad decisions against us this season and had to suck it up.”