By Sean Saranczuk
September 2 2002

Dundee United manager Alex Smith has made it clear he will not be fining Allan Smart following the striker's sending off in the goalless Dundee derby at Tannadice. Dundee United manager Alex Smith has made it clear he will not be fining Allan Smart following the striker's sending off in the goalless Dundee derby at Tannadice.

Smith felt Smart's studs-up challenge on Dundee defender Jonay Hernandez was not a sending-off offence.

But he added that he fully understood why referee John Underhill had decided to dismiss a player who had only just come on as a substitute.

He said: "I thought it was rash. He chased the ball at too fast a pace.

"He never touched him with his feet but from where the referee was standing I think it looked pretty dangerous so he took action.

"He was just keen to get the ball back for us. I don't think there was anything malicious and I won't fine him.

"I will have a word with him. We do ask them to try to get the ball back quickly and I think he was trying to do that.

"His body did touch him further up but his feet went into the grass beyond the player.

"But I think the referee would look at that as threatening despite the fact that he didn't catch him."

Dundee manager Jim Duffy reckoned Smart had only himself to blame.

He said: "It looked like a rash tackle. Strikers go into challenges like that but I never know why they do it because it was a nothing situation - the ball was 80 yards from the opposition goal."

Hernandez was quick to jump up in protest at the tackle, although it had not appeared to hurt him.

Duffy explained: "He didn't react at all. Jumping up is his way of expressing himself and the Spanish are a very expressive people."