The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Ten-man Pars draw withUnited in first leg of play-offs.
DUNFERMLINE 0 DUNDEE UNITED 0: Tangerines held by 10-man Pars
Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo refused to tag his team favourites for the second leg of their Premiership play-off quarter-final against Dunfermline.
The Tangerines left East End Park with a goalless draw against the Pars, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men following Lee Ashcroft’s controversial red card.
It appears to be advantage United, but the Hungarian wouldn’t go that far.
Asked if they were now in the driving seat, he said: “No, because we will have to score maybe two goals at Tannadice and it is a dangerous game. Maybe it is 50-50 but I still feel Dunfermline are the favourites.
“I think the Dunfermline goalkeeper had some good saves and so did Deniz for us.
“At Tannadice on Friday it will be a very tough game for us again,” added the Tannadice boss.
“I think both teams played a good game tonight. It was enjoyable for the crowd but not for me because after the red card we should have scored. I am fair so I think that a draw is the correct result.”
Ashcroft was sent packing for fouling Scott McDonald and preventing a goalscoring opportunity and their ate Pars are set to appeal against it.
Laszlo said: “I am not a referee but if a player is alone and one against one on the goalkeeper and is fouled from behind then, according to the rules it is a red card.
“I don’t want to make a judgment, though, because I have to see the TV pictures.”
Dunfermline gaffer Allan Johnston confirmed they will be trying to get the red overturned, saying:
“I have seen it again and it’s never a sending off so we will be appealing it. Hopefully the referee will look at it and see it is a poor decision. He has said it was for denying a goalscoring opportunity but I don’t know how that can be.
“Lee Ashcroft has got his body in the way and Scott McDonald has fallen down.
“I think the referee has been conned a bit and it was a decision that has cost us dear. We will put the appeal in on Wednesday morning and hopefully they will realise it’s a mistake. Hopefully, common sense will prevail.”