Dundee boss: We deserved the flak

[News Bot]

Dundee boss Paul Hartley admits he’ll accept criticism after his side endured an all-round bad day at Inverness.

Before the contest at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, the Dens Park gaffer had railed against perceived negativity coming from all quarters in the media, accusing some of having short memories.

He defended his overall record — since taking over at the club in February 2014, Hartley has overseen promotion to the Premiership and a top-six finish — but for the 39-year-old there was no defending his side’s performance on Saturday.

He said: “It wasn’t good enough. We’ll accept criticism, I’m telling you, for this.

“We didn’t perform well from start to finish.

“Too many just had a bad day at the office.

“I don’t think there were any positives — as a group we didn’t perform and in all departments we were second best.”

The Dark Blues were ponderous off the blocks and the home side took a 2-0 lead inside the opening 17 minutes.

Firstly Lonsana Doumbouya opened his account for Caley with a glancing header after eight minutes.

And then just 10 minutes later it was plain sailing for the home side as Greg Tansey netted from the spot.

The award of the penalty was a debatable one as Julen Etxabeguren challenged Billy King on the corner of the Dundee area.

But for Paul, giving the referee a decision to make could have been avoided in the first place.

“I don’t think we have to make the challenge, to be honest,” Paul added.

“I don’t think it’s a bad challenge either, I just felt we have to do better on the defending side of it.

“Was it a penalty? I’m not quite sure.”

And, to add injury to insult, new signing Tom Hateley was replaced on the hour with a muscle problem.

Paul said: “He’s hurt his groin a little bit so we’ll assess him today and see how he is.”

Caley boss Richie Foran, though, was understandably delighted with the victory, saying: “We scored goals at the right time — early in the first and second halves.

“We’ve taken three of five or six chances, which was brilliant.

“We’re going in the right direction.

“We’re trying to catch the team in front of us and we’ve got another tough game next weekend but it’s pleasing at the moment.”

View the full article