Inverness Caley Thistle manager John Hughes has accused Dundee United of “conning” referee Calum Murray during Tuesday’s bad-tempered 1-1 draw at Tannadice.
Murray dished out two red cards and eight yellows as United came from behind to prevent Caley Thistle moving 10 points clear of them in the Scottish Premiership top four.
Home goalkeeper Michal Szromnik was sent off for bringing down Marley Watkins for the early penalty that Greg Tansey slotted home, but Ryan McGowan levelled with a deflected goal in the 74th minute.
There was drama in injury-time when Caley Thistle defender Gary Warren was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball clash with United striker Nadir Ciftci, who was booked.
Hughes, who had five players booked, said: “I’m a wee bit disappointed in the referee second half. Calum is one of the best and he’s very approachable and is different class.
“I felt he just lost it in the second half and bought every con that was going out there, and most of them went Dundee United’s way.”
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On Warren’s red card, Hughes added: “He said it was violent conduct so you accept that. He must have done something to get sent off.”
Both managers felt their teams should have won the game but they did not agree over the referee’s display.
United boss Jackie McNamara felt Caley Thistle should have been down to 10 men a minute into the second half when David Raven, who was booked after 13 seconds, hacked down Paul Dixon.
McNamara said: “I think Yogi (Hughes) was disappointed the lad was sent off in the last minute, but I think they should have been down to 10 just after half-time following the foul on Dixon.
“He has given the free-kick but he was away. He has taken him out. For me it was a second booking.
“But I saw Yogi talking to him at half-time and giving him words of encouragement.”
When told Hughes thought the referee had been conned, the United boss said: “I don’t. I think if he was conned, then they would have been down to 10 men a lot earlier.
“I don’t know about the sending-off I didn’t see what happened there. But the linesman has seen something.
“I’m just proud of the players and how they responded after the weekend, when we were disappointing.”