Mcpake riled by ref after he refuses to show Ranger a red card
Frustration boils over as Light Blues stay on top at Dens
James Mcpake last night hit out at top referee Bobby Madden for baiting him.
The Dundee boss was sent off by the official for complaining that he didn’t show a red card to Jon Mclaughlin in the second half at Dens Park. The Rangers goalkeeper brought down Paul Mcmullan on the hour, but then saved Jason Cummings’ spot-kick.
Mcpake said his frustration over all of that was compounded by a barbed comment from Madden post-match.
“In the end, he became unapproachable, and said: ‘I am not speaking to you about it. I can’t talk about an incident’,” said the Dee boss.
“Then you get the ‘you missed the penalty, anyway’ shout.”
Dundee’s defeat left the Dark Blues bottom of the table and without a goal in their last five games. n
Furious Dundee manager James Mcpake hit out at referee Bobby Madden last night for baiting him about a missed penalty.
Mcpake was shown a straight red card by the official for his protest during Dundee’s defeat to Rangers at Dens.
He had been angered that visitors’ keeper Jon Mclaughlin was not sent off for a foul on Paul Mcmullan in an incident that saw the Dark Blues awarded a spot kick.
But he said Madden ignored his complaints, showing him a red card and then brought up the fact Jason Cummings’ effort was saved by the man he felt should have been off.
“In my opinion he should not have still been on the pitch,” said Mcpake.
“I know the rule is if you make a genuine attempt and people will disagree and say it’s a genuine attempt.
“Paul Mcmullan is clearly by him and the leg comes out. If it’s Adam Legzdins would my answer be different? Probably not.
“I am just giving an honest opinion. Having seen it back, I think the arm catches him as well. TV footage will maybe show that better. I am looking at it from a high camera. We miss the penalty but we still have half-an-hour to play with 11 v 10.
“I like the rule that if you make a genuine attempt it is not a red card offence but Paul Mcmullan is clearly by him by the time he makes an attempt.
“I got an explanation out of Bobby Madden. I have a fantastic relationship with Bobby.
“In the end, he became unapproachable and said, ‘I am not speaking to you about it, I can’t talk about an incident’ and then you get the ‘You missed the penalty anyway’ shout.
“We know that, I watched it. Listen, Jason Cummings was excellent when he came on.
“I was worried about putting him on so
early because that boy has had Covid twice and he was not well through the week.
“Paul Mcmullan deserves praise too because he caused them all sorts of problems through the middle.”
Paul Mcgowan backed his manager’s view that Mclaughlin should have been sent off.
“I think he should have been because wee Paul was going to tap it in,” he said.
“He’s knocked it by him by about five yards. That goes against us as well, but he saves the penalty.
“It either goes for us or against us. I feel for the boys because we put so much into the game.
“It’s been a tough week for us. We dug in. Rangers are a top side but overall we were the better team.
“I can’t remember the last time a Rangers team were keeping the ball in the corner and time wasting.
“Credit to our players. It will come for us because we are creating big chances and playing far too good.
“It’s just not happening in front of goal. The fans clapped us off and we want them to stick with us.
“If we keep playing the way we’re playing… I’ve been here for seven years and I’ve been involved in hard times.
“But I’m not down just now. The boys are not down because we know it will come and the goals will start to come.”