REFEREE BLUNDER(S) COSTS DUNDEE A POINT

RAITH ROVERS 2-1 DUNDEE



Dundee's unbeaten run came crashing down at Stark's Park this afternoon after a contentious decision from the referee in the build up to Raiths' winner.
Dundee started the game with youngsters Gary Bartlett and Connor Rennie both starting and in the early stages of the first half, Raith dominated but didn't really have any clear cut chances. Dundee's defence stood resolute but were lacking in terms of posession which Raith mopped up well.
It came as no surprise that just before the break, Raith Rovers when a Baird flick found Tade and he struck a low shot past Douglas at his near post, with protests from the Dundee fans of a handball from Tade in the process.
Half time came and went and Raith changed their keeper from McNeil to McGurn. Raith still bossed the early stages of the second half yet rarely did they look as if they could put this game to bed and this allowed Dundee hope. The Dees were still in the game. There was a lack of composure from the Raith side and this allowed Dundee to enter their best spell of the game and midway through the second half the Dees won their first corner. The ball was flighted in from O'Donnell and Bendictus glanced a header towards the top corner but McGurn superbly tipped the ball over the bar.
With 20 minutes to play, Dundee equalised. A great run from Connor Rennie saw his cross met by Stephen O'Donnell who flashed a shot from a tight angle past the Raith keeper. The Dundee fans went wild with delight in the stand behind that goal.
Dundee were more confident with their passing but never looked like grabbing a winner. An unfair second yellow for Craig McKeown meant that Dundee had to play the last 10 minutes or so with 10 men. For all the possession that Raith had, they never really looked like producing a winner.
A minute into stoppage time however, the referee awarded Raith a free kick and from that Dundee couldn't clear the ball and it was Walker who picked the ball up and lashed the ball off the underside of the bar and into the net. An unjust and disgraceful decision from the referee who ultimately cost Dundee a fair share of the spoils and that left Dundee with no time to respond.

Barry Smith had some heated words with the referee at full time and rightly so as the referee had a dreadful match but hey, that's football as they say.

The players at the full time whistle looked dejected but they were superbly given a standing ovation from the Dundee fans who had recognised they had given their all and had battled well throughout the match. The youngsters Rennie and Barlett who were drafted in did very well under difficult circumstances.

The players should be proud of the fantastic 23 game unbeaten run and we are truly proud of the players and their fantastic efforts.

Raith Rovers FC

McNeil (McGurn 45)

Wilson, Murray, Campbell, Hill

Walker, Davidson (Ferry 65), K McBride, S McBride (Weir 79)

Tade, Baird

Unused subs: Wales, Dyer

Goals: Tadé 43, Walker 89

DUNDEE FC

** Two yellow cards

Attendance: 3,143

Douglas

Benedictus, McKeown**, Weston, Lockwood

Rennie, Irvine, O’Donnell, Bartlett

Harkins, McIntosh

Unused subs: Gibson (gk), Tulleth, Webster, Carnegie, Hutcheon

Goal: O’Donnell 70