‘Totally unacceptable’: Aberdeen player struck on head by seat thrown by own fans

The Aberdeen manager, Jimmy Thelin, has described the head injury to defender Jack MacKenzie from an seat thrown by his own fans after the 2-1 defeat against Dundee United as “totally unacceptable”.

Home fans invaded the pitch at Tannadice after the final-day win clinched fourth spot in the Premiership and a place in Europe. MacKenzie, an unused substitute, was struck by a seat thrown from the section holding Aberdeen fans and was given lengthy treatment before being taken away in a wheelchair with a bloodied bandage around his head and stitches were required.

United’s lap of honour was called off and Thelin said: “What’s happened is totally unacceptable. It is a bad injury, but Jack is OK so let’s see how it feels after more minutes. It really, really bad. I haven’t seen exactly what happened but our player got hurt, bad. Everyone understands that is not OK.”

His United counterpart, Jim Goodwin, who was pelted with missiles from Dons fans when they visited in December, was equally condemnatory. The former Aberdeen manager said: “It’s an absolute disgrace. I’m gutted for Jack MacKenzie, who’s a terrific young player, and for him to be hit and seriously damaged by an object thrown by his own supporters, it’s crazy. And it’s not the first time.

View image in fullscreen Fans invade the pitch after Dundee United’s victory over Aberdeen at Tannadice Park. Photograph: Ronnie Esplin/PA

“I’ve had a number of objects thrown at me throughout the season by the Aberdeen supporters and nothing has been done about it. So maybe it’ll take a serious incident like this to happen in order for the authorities to really step in, take notice and punish those guys and ban them from football for life.”

Fraser Wishart, the PFA Scotland chief executive, said: “Jack MacKenzie is one of the PFA Scotland management committee so he was at a meeting the other day. When you see him being wheeled off you are pretty concerned.

“I have been warning for a long time that something like this would happen if we don’t stop it. I don’t get the mentality of anyone who would throw an object of any kind at a player. I have always said if someone was to get hurt we are into a different domain.

“It is difficult for the authorities and the clubs, I get all of that, but we are denying there is an issue here. Over the whole season we have seen incidents and our members endangered. Something has to be done. There has to be conversations between the governing bodies, the clubs, ourselves, the managers and coaching associations to try to find a way out of this as it can’t go on. These incidents are on the rise.”

Dundee United leapfrogged Aberdeen into fourth place with their comeback win. Jeppe Okkels scored his first goal for the Dons since signing on loan from Preston in January after 15 minutes with the visitors controlling the game. United gradually came back into it and in the 56th minute Declan Gallagher levelled with a header from a Glenn Middleton corner.

View image in fullscreen Celtic’s players hoist the trophy after finishing their season against St Mirren. Photograph: Scott Heppell/Reuters

Sam Dalby put United ahead with a penalty in the 62nd minute and when the dust settled on the final day of top-six fixtures – and there was a pitch invasion by home fans at the final whistle – Jim Goodwin’s men, back in the top flight this season, finished fourth, which brings a potential Europe League qualifying place.

Aberdeen are able to swipe it back if they win the Scottish Cup against Celtic next week, albeit the champions failing at the last hurdle of another domestic treble is a long-odds prospect.

James Forrest gave Celtic fans the finale they craved as he equalised in stoppage time against St Mirren to extend his run of scoring for the club to 16 consecutive seasons. Forrest left it until the league season was 38 games old to get off the mark on a day when he was chosen to deliver the Premiership trophy to his teammates before Callum McGregor lifted it for the fourth year running.

“It was a brilliant way to end what has been a fantastic league campaign for us,” said Brendan Rodgers. ‘It was a wonderful feeling for James and for everyone in the stadium.”

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St Mirren were leading through Jonah Ayunga’s goal – and at one stage heading for Europe – until Alistair Johnston set up his fellow substitute Forrest, who slotted inside the near post to make it 1-1.

Forrest had injected some much-needed urgency and creativity into the Celtic team after being introduced in the 55th minute after the home fans raised banners in his honour and sang his name. The winger then went on to collect the 26th winners’ medal of his Celtic career, going past the previous record holder, Bobby Lennox.

“It will mean a lot to James and that’s significant Bobby being here,” Rodgers said. “It was really, really nice and having been that record holder for so many years and passing the baton on to James, it’s really special. So great for Bobby and we’re thankful that he was able to come.”

St Mirren fans were left proud of their team for their display and for going through the post-split fixtures unbeaten, but also disappointed after being pipped to fifth. Their manager, Stephen Robinson, said: “We are unbeaten in the top six and I’m not sure when that might happen again for St Mirren. Three years in a row in the top six and fighting for European places. It’s a good time to be a St Mirren fan and I’m proud to say I’m the manager of that group of boys.”

Rangers were left to lament a contentious first-half moment as they ended a largely dispiriting campaign with a 2-2 draw at Hibernian. Second-placed Gers went ahead early on through their top scorer, Cyriel Dessers, and felt they should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute when Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line. However, play was waved on and Hibs went straight up the park to equalise through Kieron Bowie.

View image in fullscreen Hibernian’s Rocky Bushiri (right) clears the ball as Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin (left) claims it has crossed the line. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

Raskin did restore the visitors’ lead early in the second half but Martin Boyle hit back with his 99th goal for the third-placed Hibs to maintain their six-month unbeaten run on home soil.

The draw meant the interim Rangers manager, Barry Ferguson – expected to make way this summer – has overseen six wins from his 15 matches in charge since succeeding Philippe Clement in February.

“I hope it’s not my last game but we’ll see over the next couple of days,” he said. “I know I can do the job if I get the right tools. Whatever happens, I’ll support whoever gets the job.”

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