It could’ve been the full Nelson McPake: Goal hero unlucky to miss out on start
to earn a point but Murphy insisted they should have taken all three.
The gaffer said: “After going behind I’m delighted with the character shown.
“I shouldn’t be talking about the referee after a game but that was a disgraceful decision and it’s cost us two points.” James McPake reckons Andrew Nelson had a point to prove to him – and was delighted when the super sub did just that.
Dens boss McPake admitted he agonised over leaving the striker out of his starting side.
But he was delighted when Nelson climbed off the bench to head the crucial 74th-minute winner.
And McPake told how he felt for the former Sunderland ace.
He said: “Andy probably feels hard done by. I had a front two that didn’t include him and that’s no ref lection on Andy who has had a good pre-season.
“It was a tough decision to leave him out but that’s football for you.
“I really love working with Andy. You get everything from him and he showed that again for how long he was on the park. And his goal was great, a brilliant header.
“But there’s so much more to come from him. We know he can make a massive contribution with goals allied to his overall play.”
Dundee handed a second debut to Kane Hemmings on the striker’s return to the club from Notts County in midweek.
Skipper Jamie Ness gave the hosts a further boost by shaking off an injury to take his place in central midfield.
But Ayr created the f irst chance in eight minutes when Michael Moffat outmuscled defender Jordan Forster only for his touch to let him down as he closed in on Jack Hamilton’s goal.
Hemmings was looking lively and saw a shot deflected
Dundee ................ 1 Ayr United ........... 0
Euan McArthur
narrowly over before Steven Kelly’s free-kick at the other end fizzed just too high.
Ayr were dangerous on the break and in 18 minutes Alan Forrest left the defence trailing before forcing a f ine save from Hamilton.
Ayr screamed for a penalty in 40 minutes when Forrest went down under a challenge from Cammy Kerr but referee Alan Newlands was having none of it. The decision left the visitors furious.
Dundee looked more lively af ter the break and Paul McGowan sent a cute chip from inside the box just wide of Ross Doohan’s far post.
Forrest had another golden opportunity in 67 minutes as he found himself through on goal after hesitation from the Dundee defence but his low shot was turned round the post by Hamilton.
Nelson showed him how it should be done in 74 minutes, meeting Jordan Marshall’s pin- point cross to plant a header past Doohan.
Fel low substitute Josh Todd should have killed the contest right at the end but he f ired weakly at Doohan from point-blank range.
Ayr boss Ian McCall said: “I’m gutted with the officials. I don’t know why the referee didn’t give a penalty.
“It was as clear a penalty as you’ ll ever see. Kerr didn’t even touch the ball.
“I actually got booked for running on to the park to celebrate as I felt the referee was going to point to the spot.”