Proud McIntyre reckons referee’s red card call wrecked it for Ralph

BY ALAN MARSHALL DUNDEE boss Jim McIntyre insists referee Alan Muir blundered when he sent off Nathan Ralph and insists he’ll fight to clear his name. The Dens Park side earned a battling point which lifted them off the foot of the Premiership table for the first time this season. But gaffer McIntyre felt aggrieved at having to battle for 70 minutes with 10 men after Ralph was sent packing for a foul on Daniel Candeias in the 18th minute. Muir ruled the tackle denied Candeias a shot at goal but McIntyre will take that decision to the SFA. He said: “The referee told me it was for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. “So that is going to be appealed because Andy Boyle is round on the cover so it’s definitely not that. “So that was disappointing but I would rather talk about how good the players were, rather than that decision. It was as difficult as you’d expect down to 10 men against one of the best sides in the country.

“The boys showed great resolve and organisation. At half-time we said to them you will get a counter attack and I thought we could have made more of that one at the end.

“But having said that I didn’t think Rangers cut us open that much, Jack Hamilton had one or two saves. We knew we’d have to give up the wider areas and defend a lot of crosses. The players deserve all the credit it‘s not easy to handle that, especially so early.”

Kenny Miller fired Dundee into an early lead before Andy Halliday equalised just after Ralph’s red card.

And McIntyre was full of praise for the 38-year-old.

He said: “Every day on the training ground he has that enthusiasm. Even if it’s a warm-up or ball skills, he does everything the way it should be done and that’s why he’s still playing at his age.

“It was just a punt up the park and he reacts quicker because he’s really switched on upstairs.

“He puts it away great and was unlucky not to score again straight after when Allan McGregor makes a good save.”

Dundee are now above St Mirren on goal difference and McIntyre has warned the hard work is only just beginning.

He said: “Nobody wants to see themselves sitting bottom. We have aspirations to be higher but it’s one small step at a time.”