The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
United to appeal Murray red card
DUNDEE UNITED 0 HAMILTON 0: Striker set to play in Sunday’s return leg
Dundee United will head to Hamilton harbouring a serious sense of injustice after being denied a stonewall penalty and getting Simon Murray wrongly sent off.
Manager Ray McKinnon confirmed last night that the Tangerines will appeal and the word within Tannadice was that they have been told unofficially that it will be successful.
It was assistant referee Graham Chambers who ruled against Murray, with ref Steven McLean looking to have been about to award a crucial spot-kick on 77 minutes.
The lodging of the appeal via the fast-track process would, regardless, freeze Murray’s second booking until after the return leg of the Premiership play-off final at New Douglas Park on Sunday.
So Murray will be in his usual place up front when United and Accies go again following a goalless first match last night.
McKinnon said: “We will be appealing because it would be an injustice if Simon couldn’t play on Sunday.
“So that will be going in tomorrow morning and we expect the card to be rescinded.
“He is a massive part of the team and is scoring goals for us. Simon is a vital part of our side.
“We thought it was a penalty at the time but the booking has been given for simulation. It’s disappointing now that I have seen it back.
“It was a stonewall penalty. We could have been a goal up and had 11 men to the end of the match.
“It was a big, big decision in a big game but these things happen and we can’t dwell on it. We are still in this tie and hopefully Simon is able to play on Sunday.”
With no lead to take down the road, McKinnon was asked if it was now advantage Accies.
He added: “I would say the tie is hanging in the balance.
“It is wide open and it will come down to desire and maybe who gets a little bit of luck. It will be exciting, that’s for sure.”
Meanwhile, Wato Kuate has played his last game for United after storming off in the huff after being substituted.
Asked if that was the case, McKinnon replied: “Absolutely.”
He confirmed that such behaviour “will not be tolerated at Dundee United.”
McKinnon added: “I don’t know what that was all about.
“I didn’t speak to him but I spoke to the rest of the players. I was more focused on them.
“Mark Durnan was telling him to buck up his ideas and, with Wato being a bit of a hot head, he did not take kindly to it.
“To walk off the park and show that disrespect to his team-mates will not be tolerated.”