Motherwell boss blames Dundee 'bouncer' for Scottish FA charge

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee has blamed an overzealous Dundee "bouncer'' for his Scottish Football Association disciplinary charge.

McGhee was this week hit with a misconduct charge which alleges he adopted an aggressive manner and used "'offensive, abusing and/or insulting" language towards both a match official and a steward.

McGhee was unhappy that referee John Beaton failed to award Motherwell an opening goal in their 2-0 defeat at Dens Park on November 5 after Dundee goalkeeper David Mitchell appeared to carry the ball over his line.

His frustration was compounded by the fact that Beaton, who was this week named as the referee for the Betfred Cup final, had previously given Dundee a controversial late penalty in a 2-2 draw with Motherwell last season.

But the Scotland assistant manager has vowed to defend himself over the incident at a Hampden hearing on December 1.

"It was exacerbated by the intervention of what I would describe as a bouncer, not even a steward,'' the Motherwell boss said.

"I was perfectly calm. It describes in the complaint that I waited at the end of the tunnel. I usually wait at the end of the tunnel and be the last man through, particularly after a defeat.

"I usually wait until the players go off, including any opposition I know, I say well done to them.

"When I went in the tunnel, I was going to have a word with the referee about what I thought was a diabolical decision, and it was a diabolical decision by the same referee for the second time in two years in the same fixture.

"I started to say it in a very calm, ironic way when this bouncer stepped in and almost knocked me off my feet.

"It was that altercation that disintegrated between the door into the tunnel up to the referee's room. I was having a running battle with this bouncer.

"It was only then when the referee was able to disappear into his dressing room without me being able to speak to him that I shouted something. What it says in the report is absolutely what I shouted.

"But it was absolutely caused by the intervention of Dundee's bouncer. I am going to go up and defend it because it was literally caused by the guy's unnecessary and overzealous intervention."

Meanwhile, midfielder Carl McHugh is back running following a serious concussion injury which has kept him out since the opening day of the Ladbrokes Premiership season on August 6.

McGhee, who otherwise has a fully fit squad for the visit of Partick Thistle on Saturday, said: "Carl McHugh is back this week and has started his recovery properly.

"I have just spoken to him and he's feeling good, he is smiling.

"It has still got to be incremental, there is a way this has to happen, but we are looking forward to having him back in the new year."