Dundee believe there was an early Halloween horror show from referee Steven McLean on Saturday.
The Dark Blues are convinced they were the victims of a trick which turned out to be a treat for the Jags after Chris Erskine went down all too easily in the Dundee box in the 23rd minute when he found himself one on one with home keeper Rab Douglas.
The referee awarded a spot-kick and then added insult to injury when he dismissed the veteran stopper. Douglas’s depth of feeling at the injustice he felt was plain to see as he harangued the ref before heading for an early bath.
Substitute keeper John Gibson was brought on and his first act was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Paul Cairney lashed the spot-kick home.
The penalty and the sending-off proved to be the pivotal moments in the game and the steam was still coming out of Douglas’s ears long after the final whistle had blown.
He said: “I never touched him. It was a monumental error from the referee embarrassing. I have been playing for 21 years and it’s probably the worst decision yet.
“I have been sent off before and held my hands up but I didn’t touch him. I could probably have tackled him outside the box and it wouldn’t be the double-edged sword of a penalty and a sending-off.
“When I got up I did not think for a second that he would send me off. I thought the boy had over-run it and Matty (Lockwood) had got back. I spoke to the referee but am no further forward really. He says he will review it and I hope he has the dignity to send me an apology.
“I have seen the video evidence and it’s strong.”
Douglas added: “I have been playing long enough and you can’t kid me on. There’s not many refs I’ve had words with. But they have to realise it’s not about them fans pay their money to watch players and they want to see games with 22 boys on the park.
“I probably won’t get a decision for me again after this but I’m nearing the end. I’ve had a ball and I’m not going to let a referee upset me.”
McLean continued to infuriate the home support for the rest of the game with a series of debatable decisions, with the most contentious coming in the second half when Public Enemy No.1 Erskine caught Neil McGregor full in the face with an elbow, an offence which the ref deemed not even worthy of a foul.
To their credit, 10-man Dundee valiantly dug out a whole host of chances but found themselves facing a keeper in inspired form in Ryan Scully.
The Jags second-choice stopper, who was elebrating his 19th birthday on Saturday, pulled off a string of outstanding saves to deny Dundee at least the point they deserved and he was given a standing ovation by the travelling fans at the end.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the controversial incidents, the stark fact remains that Dundee’s fourth successive home defeat has left them once more at the bottom of the First Division table, 11 points behind leaders Ross County.
And the next four matches could be make-or-break time in the Dark Blues’ season with Raith at Dens this week being followed by Morton away, Falkirk at home and then a trip to Hamilton.