Tony Docherty slams 'wrong' Rangers clash decision as Dundee boss reckons disallowed goal should have stood

Dens boss reckons there was nothing wrong with Fin Robertson's goal that would have put his side 3-0 ahead.

Tony Docherty says referee David Dickinson was wrong to chalk off Fin Robertson's goal against Rangers and deny Dundee a “fully merited” 3-0 lead in Saturday’s Dens Park barnstormer.

The home side were already two goals up when Robertson lashed a third beyond Jack Butland - but Dickinson had already blown for a foul against Josh Mulligan for a tackle on Ridvan Yilmaz.

Rangers went on to snatch all three points with a stunning late fightback and Docherty admits his side shot themselves in the foot by giving up too many chances. But he is certain the ref was wrong with his first half call.

He said: “Watching it back I don’t think there was anything wrong with Fin’s goal. I don’t think it’s a foul on Yilmaz from Josh, it was a brilliant goal which should have put us 3-0 ahead. That would have been fully merited.”

There was better news for the Taysiders as they look to battle their way out of relegation trouble. Simon Murray, who went down injured in injury time after seeing a 91st minute effort come back off the post, will be fit for the weekend’s trip to face St Mirren.

Docherty said: “Simon is okay, he came off with cramp in his calf but he’s been looked after by the medics. Whether he’s back training on Tuesday or it’s later this week we’ll wait and see, but he’ll be fine for St Mirren.

“It’s a massive relief because when I saw him hobbling around you do have concerns. We were away to take him off then he burst through to take that shot which hit the post, so you worry.

“That’s just Simon being Simon, he puts so much work in - as the whole team did. But it’s a relief he’s not done himself any damage. He’s in great form, he’s scored five in his last six and is up to 19 for the season.”

Lyall Cameron missed Saturday’s defeat to his future employers with a hamstring problem but Docherty is hopeful the midfielder will be back before the split. He said: “Lyall’s scan has come back and it’s not too bad. We are hopeful he will be back for the Hibs game and if not, certainly after the split. That’s good news because you want to have that competition for places.

“Antonio Portales and Clark Robertson are back in training and hopefully Seb Palmer-Houlden will be training by the second half of the week.”

Dundee remain 11th in the Premiership - a point behind Kilmarnock - with seven games to go. But Docherty said: “There’s still a brilliant feeling around the place so they don’t need lifted. There’s frustration and disappointment we didn’t win the game on Saturday but the players know what they put into it.

“That’s seven goals we’ve scored at home in three games against the Old Firm and not many teams do that. Obviously on the back of that there’s a frustration we haven’t won any of them.

“But it’s up to myself and the staff to channel that and make it a positive thing. We did our analysis on the game and it was so apparent how much of a strong, brave performance it was.

“It was a great performance but that’s no consolation because we want to win games.”