SHEER STUPIDITY
Watt hits out at own fans over Dingwall pitch invasions
TONY WATT described a double pitch invasion by Dundee United supporters in Dingwall as ‘stupid’ after he and team-mate Kevin McDonald were hurt by marauding fans.
The former Celtic and Motherwell striker was full of praise for the noise, colour and backing provided by the club’s travelling contingent as a crucial win over Ross County sealed fourth-place in the Premiership.
But, breaking ranks with his manager, Watt was clearly unhappy with the two incursions onto the field of play during and after the 90 minutes.
A good number of the 2,200 Tangerine faithful broke through the ranks of police and stewards after each of Nicky Clark’s two goals, which wiped out Blair Spittal’s second-half opener for County.
McDonald needed physio treatment after slipping before a fan landed on top of him. Watt was left with pain in his knee after a supporter battered into him. There were also showers of pyrotechnics thrown on to the pitch, scorching the surface before the game and, on several occasions, during it.
It is not yet known whether there will be any punishment for the fans’ behaviour by the authorities. Once the final whistle had blown, the away fans were controlled behind a cordon on the pitch for a time, but again some broke through to hail their heroes.
Afterwards, County manager Malky Mackay raised fears that someone could be seriously hurt or killed in Scotland amid a growing trend of crowd misbehaviour.
United manager Tam Courts refused to criticise the United support afterwards, putting the ‘over-zealous’ behaviour down to the club’s success-starved years.
However, Watt said: ‘The support was brilliant, but I was a bit annoyed with the pitch invasions. Somebody nearly took my knee out by sliding into me. I don’t like that. I would rather they just stayed off and we celebrated together.
‘It cut the celebrations short. I would rather be able to go to them and thank the fans.
‘They just got a bit excited but I’d rather we’d had a longer time to just clap them and let them know how much we appreciate their support.
‘Kevin McDonald got hurt as well. I think it’s stupid and ruins it for other people. But it’s not the end of the world. I’m okay.’
Watt admits United gambled on him in January when they forked out an undisclosed fee to take him from Motherwell on a three-year deal. The 28-year-old saw the team’s fourth-place finish and European qualification as vindication for the move.
‘This has to be the benchmark, the top six every year, and I said that to the manager,’ he continued. ‘We can’t stand still.
‘It’s a brilliant end to the season — and mission accomplished.’
United’s big support turned County’s north stand and side section into a high-spirited blaze of Tangerine noise.
Some of the hail of missiles thrown before kick-off held only nuisance value, with vast quantities of toilet roll making for a major clear-up job for stewards and delaying kick-off by five minutes.
But there were also more than a dozen flares tossed onto the park and more to follow during and after the 90 minutes.
A scoreless first half saw United enjoy the better of proceedings, yet Ross County seemed to grow in strength in the second half.
Spittal, believed to be leaving under freedom of contract in the summer, netted with a brilliant 25-yard strike.
United’s reaction was superb.
Within five minutes, and United fizzing in and around the home penalty area, Harry Paton slid into a challenge on Ilmari Niskanen and referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot.
Striker Clark sent young goalkeeper Ross Munro the wrong way from the spot, sparking scenes of bedlam and the first pitch invasion, with McDonald needing treatment.
Then came the late winner, with Clark tapping in a close-range finish from Kieran Freeman’s ball across. All hell broke loose again.