The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Promotion dream over
Caley Jags pay the penalty
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson gave a scathing assessment of referee Kevin Clancy and fourth official David Lowe after his side’s hopes of a return to the Scottish Premiership were ended with a 3-0 defeat by Dundee United in controversial circumstances at Tannadice last night.
United, who won the first leg 1-0 thanks to a late Paul McMullan strike at Caledonian Stadium, doubled their advantage in the play-off semi-final in first-half injury time when Nicky Clark converted from the penalty spot.
Osman Sow and Pavol Safranko were on target in the second half for the Tangerines who will face Hamilton Accies or St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership play-off final for the chance to end their three-year stint in the second tier.
Inverness were furious with Kevin Clancy’s decision to award the first-half penalty for an apparent handball by Brad Mckay as he attempted to block a Peter Pawlett drive with Robertson sent to the stands for his protests.
The goal was harsh on Robertson’s men who were impressive in long spells during the opening period and the Caley Jags manager felt referee Clancy got a key decision wrong.
Robertson said: “It is disappointing because I thought we were well in the game in both matches.
“We were unlucky not to be ahead and then the match was taking out of our hands by a shocking decision.
“We are told in all of the referee seminars if the ball gets deflected onto a player’s arms it is not a penalty.
“I have already had 40 or 50 texts from people who have said it was not a penalty kick and the one man that seen it got it horribly wrong.
“He was backed up by an incredibly arrogant and obnoxious fourth official.”
As a Scottish football campaign riddled with refereeing controversy nears its climax, Caley Thistle have legitimate reason to feel aggrieved with the way their Premiership dream ended at Tannadice.
Caley Jags had trailed Dundee United by a solitary goal following Tuesday’s first leg at Caledonian Stadium, with the decision to send off Liam Polworth early in the second half of that sparking debate.
The defining moment of the return leg was beyond argument however. John Robertson’s men had clearly been the better side as they sought to cancel out United’s advantage, however the tide turned on the stroke of half time when Caley Jags defender Brad Mckay was wrongly penalised by referee Kevin Clancy for deliberate handball inside the box.
Nicky Clark netted the resulting spot-kick, with Osman Sow and Pavol Safranko adding further goals for Robbie Neilson’s men after the break, meaning Caley Jags must now focus on regrouping for their efforts to gain promotion from the second-tier at the third attempt next term.
Inverness were without influential midfielder Liam Polworth through suspension following his dismissal
in Tuesday’s first leg, with the Highlanders knowing elimination from the tie would spell the end of his Caley Jags career following his pre-contract agreement with Motherwell. His place was taken by Tom Walsh, who returned from a hamstring injury.
With United backed by a bumper home support, Inverness knew they could ill afford to fall further behind in the tie. The visitors enjoyed some neat early play but it was United who threatened first on seven minutes, with Peter Pawlett’s strike from the edge of the box held by Mark Ridgers following a dummy by Nicky Clark.
Inverness were denied a breakthrough on 14 minutes however, with Joe Chalmers’ corner only partially cleared as far as Walsh, with his deflected driven shot palmed beaten away by Benjamin Siegrist as it headed for the bottom corner.
Caley Jags looked to provide ammunition for leading scorer Jordan White, with Kevin McHattie’s delivery from the left and a Walsh through ball narrowly evading the attacker.
Two glorious opportunities fell the way of the Highlanders in quick succession just after the half-hour mark however. White was unable to direct a header goalwards from another Chalmers’ corner, while Mckay’s ball over the top played Doran through on goal, however Siegrist did well to stand tall to smother the Irishman’s effort.
Despite the lack of a breakthrough it was a encouraging first half display from the visitors, with the Highlanders showing a intent and patience in equal measure in the knowledge only one goal was needed to level the tie.
Just as it looked as if they would hold on until half time, Inverness were dealt a cruel blow right on 45 minutes. Ian Harkes’ cross from the right flank was played into Pawlett’s direction by Clark, with the former Aberdeen midfielder seeing his strike initially blocked by the foot of Mckay, be
standably furious with the award, with Robertson sent to the stand at the interval for his protests.
Caley Thistle’s night unravelled further just nine minutes into the break, with United effectively clinching their spot in the final with a third goal of the tie. McMullan fed Sow with a low pass from the right flank, with the attacker turning Caley Jags centreback Coll Donaldson before rifling high past Ridgers to net his first goal for the Tangerines.
Inverness were visibly demoralised, but withheld further pressure from the hosts. Clark was twice denied by the post, the second effort a remarkable open goal miss following a mix up between Mckay and Ridgers.
The third goal of the night did arrive on 80 minutes through Safranko’s drilled finish, leaving Caley Thistle and their 475 supporters to contemplate what could have been. fore quickly ricocheting off the defender’s arm. It was a harsh award from Kevin Clancy, with precious little the defender could do to avoid handling the ball, however Clark was in ruthless mood to tuck the penalty home.
Inverness were under