DUNDEE BOSS HITS OUT AT ‘THE WORST OFFICIALS EVER’

LIVID Dundee boss Gary Bowyer claimed the performance of the officials in a five-goal thriller at Dens was the worst he had ever seen in his footballing career.

The 51-year-old launched a verbal volley at referee Peter Stuart after Dundee’s defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle.

Caley scored two wonder-goals through Cammy Harper and a Billy Mckay penalty, with Dundee netting twice thanks to a Robbie Deas own goal and a Joe Grayson tap in.

Dundee skipper Ryan Sweeney was sent off late on with Bowyer incensed by several of Stuart’s decisions, insisting his team should have been awarded a penalty of their own early on when Mckay handled the ball on his line.

Bowyer said: ‘I am amazed we never won the game, never mind not drawing it. But I have to say the performance of the officials today was probably the worst I have ever seen in my footballing career, both as a player and a manager.

‘The lad saved it with his hand and said to our lads it was hand-ball. He is looking straight at it, I have just looked at the video. The penalty — he couldn’t give that quickly enough.’

Dundee took the lead in the 12th minute with a Grayson corner being turned into his own net by Deas. That advantage only lasted three minutes as

Inverness netted a quick-fire equaliser with Harper hitting a sweet strike from outside the box that flew high past Dundee keeper Harry Sharp.

Caley were awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage-time when Sharp was adjudged to have brought down Harper inside the box and Mckay stepped up and sent the goalie the wrong way.

The Dark Blues equalised in the 57th minute when sub Paul McGowan floated a ball into the Caley box with McMullan hitting an angled drive that was turned home by Grayson.

However, Caley Thistle would not be denied and they secured the victory in the 83rd minute with another stunning goal from Harper who hit a sweet 22-yard shot with his left foot that again gave Sharp no chance.

Dundee’s misery was made complete shortly after when Sweeney was red carded.

Caley Jags boss Billy Dodds said: ‘The game had everything — it was 100 miles an hour. For a neutral it must have been great to watch.’