McIntyre full of praise for match-winner Wright

Posted Sunday, February 17, 2019 by PA

Dundee manager Jim McIntyre praised the diligence of Scott Wright after the on-loan Aberdeen forward produced a spectacular winning goal to end 10-man Livingston’s resistance.

Wright curled in a free kick just seven minutes from time to earn Dundee their first victory in five games, a result that lifts them up to 10th place in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

McIntyre revealed Wright devotes time to practising his dead-ball deliveries and got his reward on this occasion, his goal ensuring the win after Andy Nelson had cancelled out Craig Halkett’s first half strike for Livingston.

The Dundee manager said: “It was an outstanding free-kick from Scott and he was at the heart of the first goal, too.

“He is a brilliant boy to work with. I spoke to (Aberdeen manager) Derek McInnes about him and he said Scott always stayed behind to do extra work in training.

“He is in the gym or practising his free-kicks and it is refreshing to see a young player who has that desire to make himself better without being asked to by a manager. He deserves all the plaudits that will come his way for his performance and his wonder goal.”

McIntyre also felt his side merited the victory. He added: “Some of our stuff in the first half was really good but we were wasteful in front of goal. We had nine shots and not hit the target and that has to be better.

“But we told them not to panic and keep doing what they were doing in terms of moving the ball from side to side and causing them problems.”

His opposite number Gary Holt was left frustrated at the decision not to award his side a penalty when Stevie Lawless appeared to have been brought down by Jesse Curran. Instead the Livingston player was booked for simulation.

Holt said: “It’s a stonewall penalty at a crucial point in the game. We’ve talked about how to make refereeing better but if they can’t decisions right then what chance have you got?

“We had a foothold in the game and were scrapping and battling for every ball. We got a chance in their box and from two yards away for the referee to book him for diving is beyond me.

“When you see it, it’s pretty embarrassing. Our referees are a good standard but, on this occasion, they got the big decision wrong at the wrong time for us.”