Davies blows the whistle on ref Dallas
‘HIS DECISIONS WERE TERRIBLE’
ANDREW DAVIES yesterday launched an astonishing attack on referee Andrew Dallas after his performance in Ross County’s costly defeat to Dundee.
The County captain accused Dallas of making a serious blunder by failing to award the Staggies a penalty late on in Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory for the Dens Park club.
But the Englishman broadened his criticism to accuse the 28-year-old referee of showing arrogance and behaving in a manner unbefitting of a Premiership match official.
County’s Michael Gardyne was booked for allegedly diving under the attention of Faissal El Bakhtaoui, although video footage showed the Dundee player did make contact with the veteran winger.
The defeat left the Dingwall club two points adrift at the foot of the table heading into Saturday’s final league match away to St Johnstone.
If Partick Thistle win at Dens Park, County will be relegated after six years in the top flight. If Alan Archibald’s men draw or lose, an away victory for the Staggies in Perth would be enough to salvage a play-off against Dundee United or Livingston.
Dallas, who was fast-tracked into FIFA’s select band of referees three years ago, caused a storm of fury among the home contingent at the Global Energy Stadium.
Davies, speaking in calm and measured tones after the match, said: ‘I thought his performance all night was terrible, if I’m honest — and I don’t usually go on about referees.
‘We know as players we need to look at ourselves, given the position we find ourselves in, and we all do that in the changing room. But when decisions go against you like that, I just think: “What chance have we got?”
‘If we’d got a point from that game, we go into next week with a bit of confidence. But I thought all through the game, his decisions were terrible.
‘I thought the way he spoke to the players was terrible.
‘All the lads in the changing room are saying he’s been cocky to them and having a go — having a little pop.
‘As a professional referee in Scotland’s top league, have a word with yourself. That annoyed me.
‘There are jobs and futures at stake here and I don’t hear a lot of referees come out and apologise and say: “I got that wrong”. We’ll see what he says.
‘But it was just the way he was speaking to the players.
‘I don’t even know who he is. I just think when you’re bouncing around the pitch like that, it is disappointing.’
Seven days earlier, County were left incensed by referee Bobby Madden’s failure to send off Hamilton’s Darian Mackinnon for a high boot to the head of midfielder Jamie Lindsay early in the match.
For Davies, it was an all-toofamiliar story.
He said: ‘We’re all disappointed. We all go in there and look at ourselves and say we could do better. But that was a massive decision and it’s not just this week. Over the course of the season, it could have been ten more points we’ve had.
‘There have been some shocking decisions and that is the disappointing part. But we all look at ourselves. It is not all because of refereeing decisions, but it would help, now and again.’
Davies admits the County players must take the blame for their performances in a season that has yielded just six league wins so far.
He said: ‘As a performance against Dundee, I thought we played well in patches.
‘We had chances and didn’t take them, then they score with a good header, but one we were disappointed to concede.
‘We find ourselves in this position but the great escape is still alive — there is still a chance. We’re an honest bunch of lads.
‘We know we’re in this position because we haven’t been good enough all year.
‘We’ll go out to win the game at St Johnstone, just like we did against Dundee.
‘You never know with us. We can sometimes turn up and it is bang, bang, bang, 3-0 up. Other weeks, unfortunately, you are left thinking: “What’s going on here?”
‘It is disappointing, but we’re going to go into next week with confidence and try to win the game of football.
‘We’re still alive and the manager has said to us “Let’s go”. We’re all disappointed and know we can do better, but let’s have another pop and see where it gets us.’