Billy Koumetio apologised to Dundee teammates after Aberdeen howler revealed by Tony Docherty

Billy Koumetio has held his hands up and apologised to his Dundee teammates for his part in the weekend defeat to Aberdeen.

The highly-rated French youth international had an afternoon to forget as he made a mistake in the build up to the Dons’ opener and then missed a great chance late on to equalise with a header. Manager Tony Docherty has insisted the former Liverpool graduate didn’t need to say sorry and is in no doubt he will be stronger for the experience.

“The most important thing from that is how he reacts,” Docherty insisted. “Billy is a really honest player and man. He has to come to Dundee. He is a top level player and been where he has been but he is here to gain more match experience, good or bad. That is what the process is all about. The most important thing is that he learns from the experience. I have huge confidence, knowing the type of person he is and how driven he is, that he will learn.

“Yes, he has put his hands up and said he made a mistake. He apologised to his teammates, which he didn’t really have to do. That is the type of person he is. He will be the better for it, I am in no doubt about that. He is at a stage of his career where he is still learning. He is still only 21 although he looks a lot older. He is limited in terms of first-team games. We are here to give him that experience and for him to learn and to improve.”

Docherty knows Koumetio has a big future ahead of him and that was why he was delighted to lure him to Dens Park. He also thinks the 21-year-old will benefit from playing alongside Clark Robertson. The experienced defender, who suffered a hamstring injury in the summer, finally came in and made his debut against his former club at the weekend.

Docherty said: “I thought Clark