Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Macca’s magic as Dundee rise
Dark Blues move out of bottom two with Livi win
THE McInt y re mi racle might just be on after Dundee moved out of the Premiership’s bottom two via a hard-earned and eventful victory at Livingston.
For the first time since the opening month of the season, the Dark Blues are not sitting in either of the positions that mean automatic relegation or at least the threat of going down.
That’s thanks to two fine second-half goals, one a total cracker, on Saturday that saw Jim McIntyre’s rebuilt team fight back from being a goal down at the break to take all three points.
And it was fitting the men who hit the back of the net, Andrew Nelson and Scott Wright, were two of those brought in during the January transfer window.
Both are 21 and both have come to Dens Park seeking regular first-team football, Nelson on a permanent deal from Sunderland a n d Wr i g h t o n loan from Aberdeen.
Judging by the impact they’ve made so far, they can look forward to plenty of it.
Nelson’s clever header to cancel out Craig Halkett’s first-half opener, was his fourth goal in six games since moving north.
Wright’s spectacular free-kick winner late on was his second in three starts since his temporary flit from the Granite City and for good measure he also provided the cross for the equaliser.
Those goals mean the Dark Blues have won two and drawn two of the five league outings since the winter break, to provide genuine hope they can stay up.
And it should not be forgotten that going into the shutdown, hope was something that was in extremely short supply around Dens Park.
Still bottom then, the team started 2019 on a run of six league games from which just two points had been taken.
Eleven new signings and five league games later, suddenly this looks a side capable, on their day, of winning against most teams in the top flight.
In the likes of Nelson, Wright, Andy Dales and Craig Curran they have pace and effort up front.
Just behind them, new skipper Martin Woods has been a major influence in midfield and at the back they have big performers across the back four and i n goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
He made a vital late double save to help secure the points.
There is also an obvious togetherness and willingness to battle for each other that was not apparent earlier in the season.
That was a big factor i n Saturday’s win at a place where teams have found it very difficult to pick up points this term.
Welcome as the win was, Dundee do only lead second-bottom Hamilton on goal difference and after the match McIntyre stressed it’s where they are come at the end of hostilities in May that counts.
And if this was the perfect result, he knew as well as anyone the same could not quite be said for the performance.
Handed a boost by the early sending off of home player Shaun Byrne for a poor tackle on Dales in the middle of the park, his team managed to fall behind after Halkett stole in at the back post to score from a long throw.
Dundee then proceeded to waste some good chances as Dales, Nelson and Wright all missed when presented with clear opportunities.
In fact, it was the second period before they managed a first effort on target.
And just before the winner, sub Jesse Curran appeared to bring down Steven Lawless in the box, only for referee Greg Aitken to book the home man for diving.
It was a major let off for the visitors. Despite that good fortune, though, Dundee were worth their win and it was one that must give players and fans alike a massive boost.