MUIR BAD LUCK FOR ANGRY NEIL
McCann blasts ref for denying Dee a penalty
Neil McCann hit out at referee Alan Muir last night and insists Dundee were robbed of an injury- time penalty chance to salvage a draw.
A first-half winner from Craig Tanner moved the Steelmen to within a point of the top six while Dundee dropped to ninth ahead of Wednesday’s daunting trip to Celtic.
The Dark Blues battered the visitors in the second half but were left fuming when Muir waved away claims for a penalty when A- Jay Leitch- Smith’s shot struck Cedric Kipre’s arm.
Dens boss McCann, who reckons Tanner’s strike might have been offside as well, was in no doubt his side had been wronged. He said: “It was a stonewaller and it’s difficult for a coach and a manager to hold that anger in.
“I’ve gone in to see Alan and asked him why it wasn’t a penalty. He said he spoke to Douglas Ross, his assistant referee, and he said it did strike the arm but his arm was against his body.
“His arm wasn’t against his body! I’ve seen it. He’s come out as a keeper comes out with his knee up and his hands out and it has clearly struck his arm.
“If he is saying it has hit him on the arm how is it not a penalty? It makes me so angry as that gives us the opportunity to get the equaliser.
“I said, ‘ You are confirming it hits his hand and both arms are against his body’ and ‘yes’ was the answer. When you watch it you will see it isn’t and that to me is very poor officiating.”
Dundee turned up the heat in the early stages but struggled to find an end product despite working the ball into some good areas.
Chris Cadden created Motherwell’s first chance in 27 minutes when he delivered for Curtis Main whose header back across goal was gathered by keeper Elliott Parish.
Dee came close to the opener when a Roarie Deacon corner found Sofien Moussa but his volley flew inches wide. And that was to prove a real missed opportunity as the Steelmen surged forward a minute later to score. Parish and the Dee defenders failed to cut out Main’s low cross from the right which allowed Tanner the easiest of tap-ins.
Dee came out all guns blazing after the interval but wasted two great chances.
A Paul McGowan cross was knocked down by Kerr for Genserix Kusunga who blazed over from 12 yards. Then in 53 minutes Deacon sent a free-kick into the box for Meekings but his header bounced just past the post.
Dee were piling on the pressure and won a number of corners with Motherwell hanging on grimly. Simon Murray held off Kipre but his powerful low shot from a narrow angle was well saved by Trevor Carson. It was desperate stuff at times for the visitors and Dee’s frustrating day was capped when Muir was unmoved by Leitch-Smith’s shot.
McCann added: “I thought we absolutely dominated and there was only one side looking g to win the match. That is the most frustrating thing.”