Angry Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen had the last laugh on taunting Dundee fans after Billy McKay’s last-gasp leveller in an incident-packed 2-2 derby draw at Tannadice.
The Dark Blues’ supporters in the stand above the technical areas targeted the Finn as their side moved into a two-goal interval lead through a Kane Hemmings double.
The Ladbrokes Premiership encounter changed four minutes after the break when Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain was sent off by referee Steven McLean for a ‘last-man’ tackle on McKay inside the penalty area but even after the Northern Ireland forward had reduced the deficit from the spot, the heckling of Paatelainen continued.
When McKay dramatically headed in as the match entered four added minutes, to take the bottom side to within seven points of Kilmarnock with a game in hand, Paatelainen turned to his tormentors and cupped both his ears with police officers coming over to calm the situation.
Afterwards, he said: “It was amazing how quiet it got at that stage.
“I can understand Dundee supporters giving us plenty of stick, there is no problem at all and it is part and parcel of the game.
“I can handle that, no worries. It belongs to the game but what I can’t understand is stewards not doing their job.
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“There were no stewards stopping the abuse we were getting from Dundee supporters.
“What a spirited performance from the players if you want to talk about the game as well.
“It was an exciting match, a proper derby and it must have been great to watch. I thought we deserved a point, if not three points.”
Asked if he felt there might be some action taken by the football authorities for his reactions, he said: “No, surely not?
“I would be very surprised. It is part and parcel of the game. If that is the level we want to go to, something should be done about those people who said the things they said.”