Don't do that again: Mark McGhee has blasted Aberdeen fans who taunted his team.
Mark McGhee has had a go at Aberdeen supporters who criticised his team during their Scottish Cup game at Raith Rovers on Saturday. The Dons were on the cusp of a shock cup upset to the First Division club and the travelling fans reacted angrily to their side’s performance throughout, before Gary McDonald rescued a replay at the death.
Chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” echoed around Stark’s Park as the SPL club struggled to overcome Iain Williamson’s early goal. But McGhee’s side sparked wild celebrations behind the goal when McDonald scored with the last kick, prompting the manager to react angrily at their attitude.
“I was hugely disappointed with that sort of reaction,” said the Dons boss of the taunts from his own support. “The players deserved more than to hear those chants before the tie was even finished. They are not bad people so it was a total joke that they were treated in the manner they were.
“It was also very premature because every one of my lads proved, by keeping going right to the death, that they were playing for the jersey.
“They could have reacted badly, but did the opposite and their pride kept us in the cup. I hope the fans who were having a go will be willing to give them credit for that.”
Aberdeen have become notorious over recent years for exiting the Scottish Cup to lower league opposition, with Dunfermline Athletic, Queen of the South, Livingston and Dundee all having claimed the scalp of the Pittodrie club.
Raith looked set to add their name to that list on Saturday before the Kirkcaldy club were sucker punched at the death and McGhee says he knew beforehand that the trip to Fife would present a huge challenge to his side.
“The fans have no right to think we can just go to places like Stark’s Park and expect to win easily,” he said. “I accept our supporters were frustrated because it looked as if we were about to lose – but this was always going to be a very tough tie.”
The two teams will now contest a replay at Pittodrie on February 16 and will both go into the draw for the quarter finals on Wednesday along with Celtic, Dundee United, Hibs, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Ross County, St Mirren and Rangers.
