Two-match ban accepted by Houston

DUNDEE United manager Peter Houston has accepted a two-match touchline ban from the Scottish Football Association for comments made following his team’s 2-1 loss to Aberdeen on 2 January, and will begin his suspension from the technical area by sitting in the stand for tomorrow’s SPL match at Celtic

The SFA had issued the Scotland assistant manager with a notice of complaint over remarks which allegedly breached SFA rule 68, which relates to statements about match officials. Houston had claimed his team were denied a “glaring penalty” and ought to have had a throw-in in the lead-up to the Dons’ equalising goal.

Houston was given until 1pm yesterday to respond to the notice of complaint from the SFA’s compliance officer, but decided not to contest the ban. Houston, who is also set to miss the SPL fixture with Motherwell, said: “I just need to accept it.”

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Meanwhile, Houston confirmed United have made a £25,000 offer to Hamilton for Dougie Imrie.

Hamilton face Partick Thistle in the First Division tonight and St Mirren in a Scottish Cup fourth round replay on Tuesday and may be reluctant for Imrie, who is 28 and has also had a spell at Inverness, to depart before then. “We have made a bid for him,” said Houston, who is looking to fill a space in his squad following Scott Allan’s departure to West Brom.

“When you’re working with a smaller squad, versatility is a good thing. I’ve seen Dougie play as a lone striker, as a striker, wide on the right, wide left and at left-back. He’s caught my eye when he’s played against us.”