Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ref rebuffed Dee’s plea
Docherty says Dens Park pitch ‘playable’
DUNDEE “absolutely” wanted a delay to their lunchtime clash with Rangers, says manager Tony Docherty.
The Premiership fixture was called off 90 minutes before kick-off after match official Don Robertson inspected the pitch.
Rain overnight saw it become waterlogged with Dens Park staff working on the surface from 5am.
However, that work proved fruitless with the game postponed.
The weather had improved across the morning and Dundee wanted a delay to kick-off to allow more work to be done on the pitch.
However, they were rebuffed in that request.
Asked if Dundee wanted a delay, manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: “We absolutely wanted that.
“You look now and it is a perfect spring day. Yes, there has been torrential rain through the night but I think given a wee bit more time the pitch would have been playable.
“Of course, there’s nothing you want more when your home form is as good as it is – you want the game on.
“We were advocating and hoping that would be the case.
“But both clubs have to agree to that and the officials have to agree. Certainly that’s what we wanted.”
Docherty, though, accepts the decision by referee Robertson with two sections of the Dens Park pitch deemed unplayable.
“Listen, we saw the pitch on Wednesday night against Aberdeen and it was fantastic. It played really well and contributed to a fantastic team performance from us and a brilliant result,” Docherty added.
“It’s been torrential here. I think even the staff at Rangers, some of whom stayed at St Andrews last night, (would agree) it’s been torrential through the night.
“There has been a lot of rain on it.
“Maybe if it was given a bit longer it might be OK but I’m not going to question the official’s decision.
“We all have a job to do. We need to go with the decision.”
He added: “I’m disappointed. I was really looking forward to the game because I think we’re in a good place after a strong performance on Wednesday.
“And we’ve been very good at home – in our last four we’ve won three and drawn one.
“We were very much looking forward to playing Rangers at home today and carrying on that league form we have had.
“But listen, the decision has been made by the officials and there’s nothing we can do.
“We’ll have a re-arranged game and we’ll look at trying to replicate our home form.”
Referee Robertson has explained the reasons behind his controversial decision.
He told the BBC: “I will look at how the ball’s travelling through those (affected) areas of the pitch.
“I’ll see if there’s a consistent bounce, if there’s a true bounce.
“Will the players be able to keep their footing? Will it pose any unsafe elements for the players when they’re conducting their football actions?
“These are the elements I’ll think about when I inspect those areas of the pitch.
“Unfortunately today it wasn’t safe. The ball wasn’t bouncing at all in some of those areas – it was just sort of splatting on the pitch.
“You can’t ask the players to play in those areas of the pitch.
“It’s unsafe for them to try and play the ball and to tackle because it’s so unpredictable.
“They wouldn’t be able to keep their footing. That’s a big consideration as well.”
He added: “So when you factor all those things, it’s quite a simple decision for me – the pitch is unsafe and therefore the match is postponed.
“I’m very comfortable with the decision.
“It’s difficult because it’s a match live on TV and we’re getting to the business end of the season.
“Everyone, including the match officials, wants these matches to go ahead and (we know) there would be a good crowd here today.
“It’s a game everyone was looking forward to.
“That can make the decision difficult but actually when you strip all that away, it’s actually quite a simple decision.”
Meanwhile, Celtic legend Chris Sutton slammed the decision, reached after two pitch inspections, and appeared to take aim at Premiership official Robertson.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote on X: “A total embarrassment for the Scottish top-flight having the Dundee v Rangers game called off an hour and a half before kick-off.
“Absolute shambles how it’s come to this. Don Robertson, the ref, rocks up at 10.20am for a pitch inspection... surely a decision earlier would be wiser?”
Meanwhile, Dee fans have offered their own takes on the call-off.
Much of the reaction has been of dismay at yet another Dens Park postponement.
Cruicky80 summed up the frustration, saying: “Should start deducting us points. Absolute shambles.”
Jim Gellatly simply said: “Embarrassing.”
Teddy Watson added: “We need an explanation on what’s going on with our pitch.”
And EmmDee said: “Need out of Dens ASAP.”
However, not everyone was pointing the finger at Dundee over the state of the pitch and the reasons for the game being called off.
Dens Park Choir, a popular Dundee fan account on X, posted in response to a John Nelms interview saying the club requested a delay to kick-off.
They said: “Denied a request to move kick-off time to allow the pitch to be playable, but people will have you believe it’s Dundee’s fault the game’s off.”
Others agreed with Mike Gettinby, replying: “So the league and officials allowed the last Rangers game at Dens to be delayed because Rangers arrived late, but not this one because of the weather?”
But most accepted the blame lies with the Dark Blues.
Andrew said: “I am a Dundee fan, but sorry, this is our fault. Third time this season, it’s embarrassing.”
And Stephen Hotchkiss added: “It is our fault. The maintenance and drainage of the pitch is not good enough. Is Tannadice playable? Or North End?”