McInnes can say what he wants — it WAS a penalty
Draper returns fire after Collum blunder
ROSS DRAPER last night refuted claims from Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes that he conned blundering referee Willie Collum into awarding a penalty.
The Inverness midfielder won the critical spot-kick during a 3-1 victory for Inverness Caley Thistle which blew a hole in the Pittodrie club’s title chances.
McInnes described the moment as ‘pivotal’ after Draper went down under minimal — if any — contact from hapless Dons defender Ash Taylor with the game poised at 1-1.
Former Aberdeen target Greg Tansey converted the kick past Scott Brown.
Draper had also won a contentious penalty from Collum in a 2-2 draw with the Dons on December 27, adding to the fury of Aberdeen’s manager.
Responding to claims from McInnes that he ‘bought’ Monday night’s penalty, however, the Englishman said: ‘I bought it? If he thinks I’ve dived or something then come out and say it. To say I’ve bought it, I don’t think so. There’s contact in the area.
‘Just say what you believe. I thought it was a penalty. That’s me being honest. If he thinks it’s a dive or I’ve bought it, then say.
‘For me, players who flick a leg out and fall over, that’s buying a penalty.
‘It was nothing like that. He’s taken a wild swing in the box and, for me, you are entitled to go down. I stand by it.
‘Their player (Graeme) Shinnie went down at the other end, so I think you have to give both.
‘They are very similar. There was contact for mine but, if you give mine, you have to give t he other, which is probably the problem. ‘But I stand by that it was a penalty. There were no complaints from Taylor,’ added Draper, who could l and a two- match suspension i f SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan believes he was guilty of simulation. Suspected of winning another cheap penalty in t he f estive draw at Pittodrie, when Collum was also in the firing line, Draper again protested his innocence. He added: ‘If I keep buying these penalties I would end up skint. The one where (former Aberdeen player) Paul Quinn goes through the back of me? I don’t think so. That was a penalty.
‘ Maybe it’s frustration. After sitting on it a few days maybe he (McInnes) will look back on it.’
Addressing a widespread perception that Collum, Scotland’s top whistler, had another erratic night, Draper admitted he had some sympathy f or the FIFA official.
‘When you have got one, two or three penalty claims and tackles flying in, it’s tough.
‘I could have been booked before I was. It’s not a job I would do in the future, no chance.’
Aberdeen full-back Shinnie, meanwhile, added his voice to the chorus of criticism of Collum.
Unhappy with t he Draper penalty award, allied to his own failure to win a spot-kick later in the game, the former Inverness player said: ‘I don’t think it was a penalty. I have watched it back and there was one exactly the same on myself, so it’s inconsistency. He has given one and not the other. Why? You would have to ask him. He has made the decisions, and I feel he got them wrong.’
Aberdeen, who now face Partick Thistle on Friday night at Firhill, are three points adrift of leaders Celtic, who play Inverness on Saturday.