TWO Dons players have blasted card-happy rookie ref Steven Nicholls and Hibs' ex-Rangers flop Ian Murray for their part in talented starlet Fraser Fyvie's potentially serious injury on Saturday.
Sixteen-year-old Fyvie suffered suspected ankle ligament damage after a heavy challenge by Ian Murray as Hibs beat nine-man Dons 2-0 at Easter Road on Halloween.
And midfielder Gary McDonald and goalie Jamie Langfield are incensed that soft bookings were dished out like sweeties to guisers in the first half while Murray's brutal challenge went unpunished after crocking one of the country's biggest future talents.
McDonald said: "I know Ian well and I don't think he is a malicious lad.
"But he's an experienced pro and I think he saw the chance to take everything. He won the ball, but there are ways of winning it."
More vocal in his criticism of referee Nicholls was Langfield, who made the feelings of his team-mates at the blundering ref’s handling of the game very clear while being careful to avoid SFA censure.
Langfield said: “You look at Fraser Fyvie, who took a real sore one, and see no action taken. I have to be fair to Ian Murray as he won the ball but I think he knew what he was doing. Murray knew he was going to get the ball and the man as well.
“I asked the referee at full-time to explain what had happened during the game but he just said go away.
“I didn’t want to make matters worse, so I didn’t swear or shout at him. I was just asking him to explain and he gave me a blank expression, so I walked away.
“There are certain referees you can talk to through a game. People like Hugh Dallas or Kenny Clark were great, but you don’t get the banter now.
“It was relentless against us – honestly it felt like every challenge was a booking."
Fyvie will have a scan to determine the extent of his injury but the Dons will hope that the Scotland Under-17 captain will make a quick recovery.
