No grounds for complaint, insist Wasps

Iain Robertson • Published 1 Sep 2010 16:12 1 Comment

ALLOA Athletic have responded angrily to Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee's claims that the club's artificial pitch was to blame for injuries to three Dons players during last Tuesday's Co-operative cup tie.

McGhee blamed the surface for leaving three of his stars on the treatment table but Wasps goalkeeping coach John Hillcoat insisted his comments were disrespectful and ignorant.

He told the Advertiser Sport, "The injuries sustained by Peter Pawlett, Zander Diamond and Fraser Fyfie could have happened on the best grass pitch in the world - so I was surprised someone with McGhee's experience could jump to such a quick conclusion."

Fyfie suffered a cruciate ligament injury and faces being ruled out for the rest of the season but Wasps gaffer Allan Maitland said the player was foolish to wear blades on the surface.

"I understand what Mark is saying, and didn't really see what happened to Fraser Fyvie, but when he came off I saw he was wearing blades and I think blades are foolish on this surface - anyone would tell you that," he said.

McGhee has called for a ban on plastic pitches for all future cup ties but Alloa physio Jim Law told us the surface at Recreation Park is top quality and the unfortunate knocks taken by the Aberdeen players could have just as easily happened on grass.

He continued, "In the three years I have been here that is the first serious injury (to Fyfie) on the pitch that I am aware of.

"It can happen on any surface and the other injury with Zander Diamond was just a stumble.

"Most young players are used to playing on that type of pitch and a lot of youth games are on astroturf.

"When it is dry sometimes feet or the ball can stick on it so it is important to wear the correct type of footwear.

"That's a top quality pitch and when it is wet it plays more like a normal grass pitch.

"It was a bit damp that night and it is just one of those things. It could have happened at any time on any pitch and is so easy to do.

"Unfortunately it is part of being a professional football player and you will get injured from time to time."

As with most cup matches on the artificial surface Aberdeen were invited to train on the pitch prior to the match but turned it down.

Jim added, "That was a mistake. If you are not sure about the surface it is a good idea to try it out. Players can try the surface out - it's surprising they didn't do that.

"Dundee United and Aberdeen have played there before and there were no problems and we have never had any problems."

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  rorie
  Unregistered User
  Nov 17, 10:10
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  it was a grass pitch that ian durrant got injured on.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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