DUNDEE UNITED manager Micky Mellon has criticised the match officials after his side’s loss to Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Mellon was furious that Hibs’ second goal was allowed to stand, with striker Christian Doidge picking the ball up in an offside position before slotting home.

The United manager also hit out at referee Bobby Madden for failing to keep a handle on the Hibs players as they ran the clock down late in the game, but it was the failure of the assistant referee to raise his flag at the second goal that most frustrated him.

“You've got to get them right,” Mellon said.

“They strut about all afternoon, don't take control of the time-wasting or the gamesmanship. You expect that to be dealt with by the ref. He never did that all day but you've got to be careful what you say because you get yourself into trouble and I'm not prepared to do that.

“But at 1-0 you're still very much in the game, you know you're going to get into a time in the game when it becomes tense, and if you can take the game into that tense place you'll get an opportunity to maybe get that equaliser that takes the game into a different stage.

“Listen, I have to be honest and say Hibs were worthy of going to the final, but those wee moments have to go your way and you expect them to get dealt with better.”

Despite the cup exit, Mellon is satisfied with United’s season, with the Terrors securing safety with ease in their first campaign back in the top flight.

“They came into the Premiership to grow and build forward again and we knew they were good players,” he said.

“We want to keep it moving forward and we go away from this now a season better in terms of experience.

“Games like Saturday’s can only help us in moving the club forward. That’s what we’ll try to do.

“These boys have played a lot of Championship football and to come in and get to a major semi-final and so comfortably stay up is a massive step forward for us.”