McCann rages as Dundee sunk by ‘dive’ from Jones
duNdEE 1 Nabi (10) kilMArNoCk 2 Jones (17) Brophy (pen 55)
Furious Neil McCann last night slated Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones – and claimed he even told the Dundee players he’d taken a dive for their decisive penalty. McCann took an astonishing swipe at Jones for the 55th-minute flashpoint which left the bottom-dog Dark Blues nursing a fourth straight home Premiership defeat. For once, they actually went ahead – through Adil Nabi’s splendid 10th-minute opener – but they couldn’t hold on. Had they managed to build on their early advantage, the Tayside club could have moved off the foot of the table, but are still languishing there. Eamonn Brophy’s controversial 55th-minute spotkick left the hosts livid after Jones’ deflected cross had cancelled out Nabi’s strike to ensure Steve Clarke’s men now sit just three points behind league leaders Hearts. And McCann couldn’t hide his disgust after Jones went to ground as Dundee defender Cammy Kerr ran alongside him and Steven McLean pointed to the spot. McCann said: “To say I’m aggrieved is an understatement. I’m absolutely furious. “It’s an emotional game when you’re a manager and right now I feel pretty sick. My boys didn’t deserve that. “I’ve just watched it again and there’s no contact. “It’s a pivotal moment because, again, we have to come from behind and it’s changed the whole outcome. “I’m not taking anything away from Kilmarnock who are a very well-organised and disciplined side under Steve Clarke, but that decision helped their cause.” McCann added: “I went over to Steven after the game and he just looked at me. The defining thing for me was that ( Jones) told the boys in my team he’s taken a dive. “I asked the boy himself as he came off the pitch. He just shook my hand, but didn’t answer me. “We’re in a horrible position just now.” McCann needed to gather momentum from last weekend’s 2-0 win at Hamilton that ended a six-game losing streak. But Kilmarnock arrived on Tayside aiming for a third consecutive league win, having defeated Celtic and Motherwell in previous weeks. It was the hosts who struck first when Nabi was allowed to pick up possession and curl a low shot into the corner of Jamie MacDonald’s net for his first goal for Killie. Nabi then released Elton Ngwatala to sprint into the box, only to be beaten to the ball by MacDonald. Dundee’s lead was shortlived, though. Jones had no idea his attempted cross would take such a wicked deflection off Andrew Boyle, the Dundee central defender, and it simply looped high over the stranded Parish. The second half started with Parish pulling off a wonderful save from Brophy’s free-kick as it sailed towards the top corner. But, only moments later, the visitors went ahead, when Cammy Kerr was deemed to have clipped Jones’ heels inside the box, and Brophy exuded confidence from the spot. Then, in 73 minutes, Parish kept his team-mates in it. Calvin Miller barged into the back of Chris Burke and Stewart looked certain to score until the Dundee keeper spread himself to claw away his effort from 12 yards. Dundee now face on-form Livingston in a fortnight’s time knowing they can’t afford yet another defeat.