Were it not for one shrill blast of Nick Walsh’s whistle at around 9.30pm on Wednesday evening, this weekend’s final-day fixtures would have a very different feel to them for the players, staff and supporters of St Johnstone, Ross County and Dundee.
The Saints would still harbour hopes of a great escape, while the Staggies would know that a relegation play-off would be their best-case scenario.
As for the Dark Blues? Well they, quite frankly, wouldn’t be giving much of a hoot about anything having already secured their top-flight status for another year.
Alas, that’s not the way it’s panned out thanks to Mr Walsh. His decision to award a penalty to Ross County — duly dispatched by Ronan Hale — in the dying embers at Dens Park in midweek turned everything on its head.
It sent St Johnstone down, prevented Dundee from staying up, and handed the Highlanders the unlikeliest of lifelines.
Look, it was a shocking call. There’s no getting away from that. But referees, just like players, make big mistakes in big moments. To accuse him of being a cheat — as was the popular description doing the rounds on social media in the immediate aftermath — however, is well wide of the mark.
Don Cowie is looking to avoid seeing Ross County play in a third successive play-off
Referee Nick Walsh come under fire for a awarding County a late penalty at Dundee midweek
Dundee manager Tony Docherty was furious at full-time following the controversial decision
The bigger question is why the man in the middle wasn’t summoned by VAR to have another glance at the monitor, especially given the magnitude of the occasion. Livelihoods were at stake, after all.
But we’ll need to stick a pin in that for the time being. Those associated with Dundee, especially, can’t afford to dwell on it.
Having been 90 seconds from safety, they must pick themselves up and go again for another 90 minutes in Perth this weekend. A draw will do the trick, but that’s easier said than done when the pressure’s on. The Saints won’t want to end their 16-year stay in the top tier with a whimper either.
In truth, Tony Docherty’s side should never have been in this position to start with. Only the Old Firm and Hibernian have scored more in the Premiership this season. It’s their inability to see games out which has ultimately cost them.
A total of 28 points dropped from winning positions isn’t good enough. And poor officiating certainly doesn’t account for the majority of those.
Like it or lump it, the league table doesn’t lie. They’ve had 37 games to get the job done.
At least they have quality at the top end of the pitch to give them confidence going into Sunday. Simon Murray’s goal return speaks for itself, his tally of 16 matched only by Daizen Maeda.
And in Rangers-bound Lyall Cameron and Scott Tiffoney, they have two quality midfielders capable of doing real damage in the final third, as demonstrated to devastating effect again earlier this week.
Under normal circumstances, this is a game they should expect to win.
County, meanwhile, have no other option but to get the three points at home to Motherwell or else they’ll be staring down the barrel of a third play-off in as many years.
Hale’s crucial equaliser at Dens at least ensured Don Cowie’s side halted the dismal seven-game losing run which had seen them dragged into a survival scrap. But they got away with it, big time.
It could prove to be just the bit of luck they needed to drag their way out of this mess.
They were excellent during the first half in midweek and really should have been a couple of goals to the good before Dundee finally got their act together. Put in a repeat performance for the full 90 on Sunday, and they certainly have a chance.
Regardless of what unfolds in Perth and Dingwall this weekend, let’s hope the results are determined by the players on the pitch. Everyone’s had their fill of controversy for the year, thank you very much.
Tension so high for tannadice euro shoot-out
At the start of the season, had anyone of a Dundee Utd or Aberdeen persuasion been offered the chance of a last-day shoot-out in the sunshine to earn a spot in the Europa League, there would have been few willing to turn it down.
As it happens, that’s what’s on the line at Tannadice this lunchtime.
Jim Goodwin has led Dundee Utd to the brink of Europe on their first year back in the top flight
Aberdeen are looking to end this season on a high and seal a Europa League spot
Only a victory will suffice for Jim Goodwin’s side, while the Jimmy Thelin and Co can settle for a share of the spoils. Lifting the Scottish Cup later this month would do the trick, even if it was to end in defeat today.
It all sounds straightforward enough, right? Well you’d think so, but you’d be a brave soul to bank on either side at the moment.
Eight fixtures between them since the league split, one win to show for it. Brutal stuff.
That much-heralded defensive steel which has provided the foundation to United’s excellent return to the top flight has vanished of late. And the Dons haven’t been much better.
No time like the present for either team to rediscover their spark.
