Fifers believe Dallas errors cost them semi-final place

MARTIN MacMILLAN November 12 2004

Dunfermline were yesterday still trying to come to terms with grievances over refereeing decisions against Hearts which they feel cost them a potential Hampden place.

The Fifers' senior squad, which could be depleted by around seven players for tomorrow's visit to Pittodrie, were analysing performances on the video of the CIS Cup quarter-final defeat yesterday morning. However, it was the performance of the officials in the 3-1 defeat which was the subject of debate among many afterwards.

At the time, Davie Hay said he felt keeper Derek Stillie was impeded by striker Kevin McKenna in the run-up to Hearts' decisive penalty which made it 2-1. Yesterday, the East End Park manager's opinion had not altered, although he urged his disappointed players not to get sidetracked by their anger over some of Hugh Dallas' decisions.

"Unfortunately, nothing is going to change the decision of the referee, no matter what is said. If you watch the video, you can see Stillie is impeded before the penalty kick, but you just have to hope these things do even themselves out over the course of the season. You just have to live with it and hope the decisions balance out in the games ahead."

Keeper Stillie, who was nursing a shoulder injury yesterday, feels he deserved more protection from Dallas when he was bundled by Kevin McKenna prior to the penalty award.

He reckons goalkeepers in the SPL should get more of a helping hand from officials in areas where there are boots and bodies flying. He said: "I got to the ball and had two hands on it and I was then challenged by big McKenna. He was perfectly entitled to challenge for it, but he did not get near it and took me out. The ball then broke and they got the penalty after that."

The Fifers could be forced to travel to Aberdeen minus Noel Hunt, Gary Dempsey, Greig Shields, Andrius Skerla, both Young brothers and Craig Brewster.

Meanwhile, Hearts are set to take around 2000 fans to Switzerland after club officials managed to get an extra 300 tickets for the UEFA Cup clash with FC Basel 1893, allowing all supporters who had applied to travel to the match.

Hearts have to win on November 25 if they are to have a chance of qualifying from Group A.

They will be cheered on by a larger-than-expected travelling army from Edinburgh. Hearts were originally allocated 1400 tickets within the 11,400 capacity arena.

Taken from the Herald