Hartley aggrieved by referee decision

DUNDEE boss Paul Hartley admitted a more clinical display in front of goal from Partick led to last night’s defeat at Firhill.

But he also felt aggrieved with referee Kevin Clancy over the free kick that led to the game’s opening goal.

The Dark Blues were convinced the whistler was wrong to blow for a foul on Kostadin Gadzhalov when he slid in on Kris Doolan near the edge of the area.

Skipper Darren O’Dea protested furiously over the decision.

And salt was rubbed into Dundee wounds when full-back Callum Booth sent the free-kick into the back of the net.

“Kosta makes the tackle for the first goal and wins the ball cleanly,” Hartley said.

“We had that back at Celtic Park two weeks ago when we also got punished, for two good tackles.

“We felt Kosta got the ball and it was a fair tackle.

“He did slide in and we always say to the defenders to stay on their feet but if they win the ball they win the ball.

“We didn’t think it was a foul, so it was a soft goal to lose.”

Paul was also unhappy with the defending right before half-time when Doolan netted a second for the Jags to effectively put the game beyond Dundee.

His other big disappointment was the failure of his team to test home keeper Tomas Cerny despite getting into decent attacking positions throughout the 90 minutes.

“We didn’t make the most of our chances when they came, whereas they did.

“But I really didn’t think there was a lot in the game, not much between the teams.

“We did say before the game they’re a team who do take their chances when they come, and they did that.”

Dundee now move on to the final game of 2016 and the last before the winter break, when St Johnstone visit Dens Park for a Tayside derby on Saturday.

The consolation from last night should be that there are no fresh injury worries for that one.

And despite missing out on the chance to extend the gap over the bottom teams in the Premiership to six points, the mood in the camp remains good.

“We have a decent record over the last few games and, over the next two days, it’s about making sure the players recover well and are ready for St Johnstone.”

Dundee’s Kostadin Gadzhalov holds off Danny Devine. The big defender was adjudged to have committed the foul which led to Thistle’s first goal.