Kuate was like an angry drunk
AS THE battle to reach the Promised Land of the Premiership threatened to turn physical, Sean Dillon found himself in the role of peacemaker.
But the 33-year-old quickly discovered that attempting to placate a wild-eyed, out-of-control Wato Kuate was a futile task. One he likened to trying to stop a drunken reveller hell-bent on causing trouble on a night out.
After Kuate’s dramatic bust-up with team-mate Mark Durnan — in a confrontation sparked by the pair going for the same ball — the Cameroonian midfielder aimed a slap towards Dillon as he moved in to calm the situation down.
Immediately substituted by Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon, the 21-year-old hot-head shoved Durnan in the chest, then remonstrated with home fans as he stomped up the Tannadice tunnel.
It was a remarkable display of petulance from a brazen character who recently described himself as ‘the best in the world in his position when fit’.
McKinnon wasted no time after the 0-0 draw against Hamilton in confirming it would ‘absolutely’ be Kuate’s last appearance in a tangerine jersey.
And now Dillon is adamant that the remainder of the squad will show the proper kind of fighting spirit needed to get United over the line in tomorrow’s second leg of the Premiership Play-off final in Lanarkshire.
‘I just wanted to calm Wato down but the emotion got the better of him,’ shrugged Dillon.
‘I tried to be calm with him because roaring and shouting wasn’t going to help.
‘It was like being on a night out, somebody’s had a few drinks and you can’t talk to them, so what do you do? I don’t know what was said between Wato and Mark, but Wato was so angry he couldn’t even look at Mark.
‘Unfortunately for him, he’s then been taken off and he hasn’t reacted well to it.
‘I thought I was lacking in quality against Hamilton but, if Wato is honest, he will say the same. He was probably a bit upset at how he played.
‘But no matter how bad you are, you wish your team-mate the best of luck coming on for you. Whether you are subbed in the 80th or tenth minute.
‘I don’t agree with what he did and I’m not saying it’s okay, but emotions were running high.
‘We are all in it to win promotion. We wanted to win the league but now we are one game away from promotion — and please God we will do it at Hamilton on Sunday.’
McKinnon’s mood was to be soured further when striker Simon Murray was sent off for simulation instead of being awarded a penalty.
Cautioned earlier for tumbling theatrically under a Massimo Donati challenge, referee Steven McLean wrongly judged he had dived again when it was clear he was felled in the box by Scott McMann.
United appealed yesterday and, with the case not being heard until next Thursday, the 18-goal forward is free to play in tomorrow’s showdown.
‘I’m not going to slaughter the officials because these things happen,’ said Dillon.
‘Looking back on the incident, it looks obvious, but it’s easy in hindsight.
‘It was a tough one to take because we lost a player and we also lost a chance to score.
‘But it was strange how the game swung because, after we went down to ten men, two of their players were hobbling around, struggling badly, after they had made all their subs.’
One of the walking-wounded Accies players was Dougie Imrie following a collision with United goalkeeper Cammy Bell.
He walked into the Press conference afterwards grimacing in pain and gasping for breath as he held his damaged ribs.
But in the wake of a bruising first-leg stalemate, Imrie vowed to put his broken body on the line one final time in a bid to save Hamilton’s Premiership status.
‘I got kneed in the side of the ribs,’ he sighed. ‘I don’t know if that means taking a painkiller or having a jag before Sunday but, if I need to play through the pain barrier, then I’m willing to do it.
‘I am in a considerable amount of pain. I also got an elbow in the face from someone. It was quite a crazy game.’
Imrie admitted it was surreal to see Kuate and Durnan clashing just weeks after witnessing St Johnstone’s Richard Foster and Danny Swanson trade blows with each other at the Superseal Stadium.
‘Why do Hamilton have that effect on teams? Who knows,’ smiled Imrie.
‘But it was strange. Normally, you get on with it, but they kept arguing with each other. Then Kuate was substituted and walks straight up the tunnel.
‘I’m sure the Dundee United manager will be disappointed with his reaction.
‘We all saw United’s spirit when they won at Falkirk in the semi-finals.
‘They will be up for it. But, if we play like we did here, then hopefully we can create enough chances to win and stay up.’