Thursday, April 18, 2024
SportCup CompetitionsReferee admits double Betfred Cup blunder, according to Dunfermline skipper Andy Geggan

Referee admits double Betfred Cup blunder, according to Dunfermline skipper Andy Geggan

BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport

ANDY Geggan has claimed referee Crawford Allan admitted he made two key mistakes in Dunfermline’s 5-1 defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle.

Geggan netted his fourth goal in three Betfred Cup games but a promising first-half performance counted for nothing as the Highlanders went top of Group C with three second-half goals.

The Pars felt hard done by before the break on Tuesday night when Iain Vigurs, who netted the perfect hat-trick, curled Caley Thistle into a 2-1 lead from a disputed free-kick.

andygeggan

After the interval, with the score at 3-1, the Fifers had a strong penalty claim turned down when a Ben Richards-Everton shot was blocked by Carl Tremarco’s outstretched arm.

And skipper Geggan says whistler Allan confessed afterwards to two errors of judgement.

He said: “I spoke to the ref at half-time, I had a wee whisper in his ear, and asked him about their free-kick and he said ‘it was my mistake, it wasn’t a free-kick’.

“And then we had a penalty shout and he has said it should have been a penalty.

“It just kind of kills the game, but that’s just what happens in football.”

Having won their opening games against Arbroath and Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline could still progress past the group phase but now need to defeat Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

Whatever happens, Geggan – who is suspended for the tie – admits the match will be a timely gauge of what to expect when the teams come up against each other in this season’s Championship.

He added: “We just have to look forward to Sunday now and we’ll be up for it.

“It will be a good test against Dundee United. We’ll be able to see where we are, because they’re obviously a good side.

“It will be interesting.”

@IainCollin

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