Dundee Manager Unhappy with Celtic Penalty Decision
Tony Docherty, manager of Dundee, expressed his frustration over the penalty decision that Celtic received against his team. He believed that Dundee deserved to maintain a clean sheet in their recent William Hill Premiership defeat at Parkhead.
Despite putting up a strong performance for the first hour of the match against the defending champions in Glasgow, Dundee found themselves conceding a goal when substitute Alistair Johnston scored shortly after coming onto the field. Arne Engels sealed the victory for Celtic by converting a penalty.
Referee Ross Hardie judged that Antonio Portales had brought down Kyogo Furuhashi inside the Dundee area, a decision that was supported by VAR colleague Matthew MacDermid. Docherty, however, disagreed with the call and argued that Mohammed Sylla had been fouled in the lead-up to the penalty.
Speaking after the match, Docherty praised his team’s effort and organization, highlighting their strong defensive performance against a top opponent like Celtic. He believed that his players deserved a clean sheet for their hard work off the ball.
Docherty criticized the penalty decision, describing it as “really soft” and pointing out a possible foul on Sylla before the incident. He also defended Portales, claiming that he had touched the ball and was unaware of Furuhashi’s presence.
Despite feeling hard done by the penalty decisions, Docherty acknowledged that his team would not dwell on the outcome and vowed to continue working hard and showing commitment in their future matches. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and believed that their fortunes would eventually change.
In conclusion, Docherty’s disappointment with the penalty calls reflected his belief in his team’s performance and their ability to compete against strong opposition. While the result may not have gone in Dundee’s favor on this occasion, Docherty remained optimistic about their prospects moving forward.
