| Wilkie had been expected to return as a second-half sub in last night’s re-arranged game at Queen of the South (see more on P 23), but was frozen out when sub-zero conditions left the Palmerston playing surface in a hazardous state.
The match was completed and ended in a goalless draw, but, with temperatures plummeting and frosting up the pitch, Dark Blues boss Alan Kernaghan and Wilkie decided discretion was the better part of valour, so he remained on the bench.
“I’m gutted, but after waiting so long to get back it would have been stupid to take the risk of playing on a pitch that was not even really taking a stud by half-time,” said Wilkie today.
“I think if we had not already travelled down and the game hadn’t already been postponed once, it might have gone off again. I was a bit worried about it in the warm-up and when the boys were coming off at half-time they were telling me it was even worse.
“I went out to warm up again, but there was just a fine layer of mud and then it was frozen solid. When I tried to turn, I couldn’t keep my feet and I knew there was no way I was going on.
“I knew my dad had come down to see me, so I ran over to where he was in our fans to tell him he’d made a wasted journey. I told him he could head home early, but he stayed for the second half anyway.”
Wilkie revealed he was not the only player unhappy with the surface and there were attempts during the second half to get the proceedings abandoned.
“A few of the boys asked the referee to stop the game. I think he understood where they were coming from, but, by that time, he just wanted it finished.
“From my point of view, I am just looking forward to Saturday now and, hopefully, because we have the undersoil heating, I should be able to get on at some stage.”
And there will soon be room in the centre of the defence for the Scotland man — Bobby Mann’s booking last night means he is facing a league suspension.
It has also been confirmed that skipper Barry Smith will have to sit out next week’s Scottish Cup replay against Accies because his booking at New Douglas Park last weekend was his second of the competition.
With that game being switched to Thursday week and shown live on television, the clubs have agreed to slash admission prices to £8 for adults and £2 for concessions.
“With a semi-final place up for grabs, we are hoping for a big turn-out from both sets of fans and reducing the prices at the gate should help with that,” said a club spokesman.
“We had a great support through for the first game and similar backing would really help the team. We are very grateful to Hamilton for agreeing to this.”
Dundee are also awaiting confirmation that their league trip to Airdrie on Saturday week will be delayed 24 hours because of the cup switch. |
