Ryan Christie was given a Halloween treat by referee Brian Colvin, according to Dundee defender Kevin Holt.
But it was only because the Inverness Caledonian Thistle forward tricked him into believing there had been a foul in the box.
Holt insisted that it was a case of the soon-to-be Celtic player seeking out his leg, rather than the other way round, for the penalty that cancelled out the Dark Blue’s spot-kick earlier in the 1-1 draw.
“I’ve seen it back,” he said. “And at the time I knew I did not touch him. He’s kicked me and fallen over and conned the referee.
“I don’t really blame the referee. From where he’s standing you never know what it looks like.
“There was definitely contact but it was more him kicking me than me sticking my leg out or anything like that.
“When I was running towards it I could see him running, so I didn’t want to even give him the chance. I’ve stopped in my tracks.
“It’s him being a bit theatrical more than anything else.
“When players ask for more protection, how can you give more protection when players are throwing themselves about like that?
“Referees do not know whether they’re being sincere or if they’re getting kicked.”
The first-half had been a scrappy affair, probably just shaded by the hosts. But the game opened up early in the second period when Greg Stewart broke into the box after being picked out by a fine Nicky Low cross-field pass.
David Raven made contact with Stewart, he went down and a penalty was correctly awarded. It could well have been a just a yellow for the defender, as a Stewart goal was by no means a foregone conclusion. However he saw red.
Rory Loy scored from the spot and Dundee took control.
So the Christie-Holt coming together on the edge of the box that resulted in Greg Tansey levelling the scores just after the hour mark, couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Dark Blues.
“We felt it was only going to be something like that that was going to get them back in the game,” Holt said.
“The penalty for them definitely swung it back in their favour – it gave them something to hold on to, especially with the 10 men.
“That’s their food and drink, big defenders heading balls. They defended well but the penalty definitely changed the game.”
Playing with an extra man isn’t proving to be much of an advantage for Dundee this season.
“I think that’s the third time this year we’ve played against 10 men and not won the game,” Holt explained.
“It’s something we need to look at ourselves. We definitely need to start taking points from these kinds of games.
“It’s just the concentration to see the match out. The Ross County game was a bit different because we were actually behind when we went down to 10 men. That was harder for us – we did well to get the point.
“Against Hamilton and Inverness, we were in front but we’ve thrown it away. Against 10 men it’s silly points we shouldn’t be dropping.”
After the frustration of the penalty circumstances has faded, Holt admitted that a draw in Inverness may be looked upon as a decent result.
“On paper a point at Inverness is a good point,” he said.
“We played well enough to deserve the three points, but obviously after being 1-0 up we felt we should have done enough to see it out.”
And Holt doesn’t believe that the continuation of Dundee’s winless record in the league at Inverness is anything more than coincidence.
He pointed out: “It’s just one of those places. For me personally, this was my first time up here, but I know the club has struggled in the past coming up to the Highlands.
“Obviously there’s a bit of travel involved in coming away from home, but it’s just another game. We should be looking to come up and compete like we do at any other ground.”
If Holt’s ire was directed at Christie, his manager’s went the way of the referee and his assistant.
Paul Hartley said: “The player has to do what he has to do. The officials have been conned for their goal.
“The linesperson also, who is in a great position, doesn’t say anything. I didn’t think it was a penalty during the game but seeing it back afterwards, there was absolutely no contact.”
To add to the air of injustice in the stadium post-match, John Hughes had his take on the Dundee penalty.
He said: “I don’t think it was a red card. I don’t think it was a penalty. David Raven got a toe poke on the ball. That’s enough.”