Tony Docherty unhappy with VAR intervention as Dundee see unbeaten run ended

Dundee manager Tony Docherty felt the intervention of the video assistant referee in their 2-0 defeat to Ross County was unnecessary.

The Staggies had taken an early lead through Akil’s Wright header, but in first-half stoppage time referee Grant Irvine was asked to take another look at a coming together between Jordan White and Ethan Ingram following a VAR review, with a corner having been initially awarded.

A penalty was subsequently given, White himself converted it, and Dundee could not find a way to respond in the second half as their 10-match unbeaten run stretching back to last season came to an end.

“I said to the staff that if we went in at half-time 1-0 down we would be OK, but I have to question the manner of the second goal,” Docherty said.

“VAR doesn’t need to get involved there. The referee has seen it, and I don’t think it’s a penalty kick – and there’s a big difference between 1-0 and 2-0.

“I’m still disappointed that my team didn’t work the goalkeeper more in the second half, but I think the VAR decision was wrong.

“There’s never a good time to lose a goal in football, but that’s particularly the case in the last 30 seconds of the first half.

“The referee is on the pitch, and he sees it, but he doesn’t think it’s a penalty. There’s not one reaction from a Ross County player, so there’s no need for VAR to get involved for me.

“It was a poor decision for me. I’m not going to say that was the defining moment in terms of us losing the game, and there are things I will need to address with my own team, but there was no need for VAR to get involved.”

Ross County boss Don Cowie, meanwhile, was particularly pleased to see his side keep a first league clean sheet at home since December.

“When we got to the end of the season we were delighted to stay in the Premiership, but we knew there were aspects we had to improve on,” he said.

“We are a very honest group, and we conceded too many goals.

“This season, barring the Rangers game, we have been really solid and tough to play against.

“Especially here in Dingwall, we always feel we will cause other teams problems and score goals, so if we can keep the back door shut that gives us an opportunity to go and win games of football.

”We want to play good football, but the foundation has to be built on being hard to play against.”