Late penalty heartbreak for Dark Blues

Ross County leapfrog Dundee into eighth place after last-gasp winner

ROSS COUNTY 2 DUNDEE 1

Dundee were dealt a hammer blow when a 90th-minute penalty denied them a share of the points at Ross County last night.

Liam Boyce’s late winner hoisted the hosts above the Dark Blues after a fraught and tension-packed tussle.

The Northern Ireland international kept his cool from the spot after Michael Gardyne was brought crashing down in the box.

Both sides finished with 10 men after Dundee’s Danny Williams joined Jim O’Brien for early baths in the last 10 minutes.

The Dingwall team leapfrogged the Dens men into eighth after grasping only their second league win since the Hogmanay Highland derby triumph.

The need was great for both sides coming into the match, with Dundee seeking swift recovery from Friday’s traumatic seven-goal hammering by Aberdeen at Dens Park.

That made it four Premiership defeats in a row for Paul Hartley’s side, while County – after collapse from a winning position at Firhill on Saturday – could count just one win from their previous nine league matches this year.

Dundee boss Hartley resisted the urge to tear up Friday’s team completely but made three changes. Danny Williams, Marcus Haber and Henrik Ojamaa returned to the side, with Tom Hateley and Nick Ross benched and injured Faissal El Bakhtaoui missing out.

The hosts made three changes and reverted to a 4-4-2 shape. Tim Chow, free from suspension, returned to midfield with Jim O’Brien and Michael Gardyne also earning starts.

Chris Routis, Alex Schalk and Jay McEveley dropped to the bench.

There was a fierce wind in County faces, badly affecting the flight of high balls, as play kicked off.

The Dingwall team were lively from the outset and it only took seven minutes for that bright start to translate into the opener.

O’Brien was sharp to spot Liam Boyce making a run into the left side of the box.

The Northern Ireland international jinked his way past Kevin Gomis before cutting the ball back for Tim Chow to stroke home from eight yards.

But County were beginning to perform with a bit of verve, with former Celtic, Motherwell and Shrewsbury Town man O’Brien proving influential in only his third start for the Staggies.

Their injury troubles were mounting, though, and captain Davies became the second to exit injured after only 35 minutes, hobbling off to be replaced by ex-Blackburn defender Jay McEveley.

The half closed in controversy, Dundee drawing level with a penalty.

Marcus Haber’s head-flick sent Ojamaa racing into the County penalty area. When the Estonian tumbled as he surged past Marcus Fraser, referee John Beaton pointed to the spot.

County protested furiously, but Dens Park captain Darren O’Dea powered the penalty high past keeper Scott Fox.

Injuries had added six minutes to the half and, when Routis launched a long ball into the penalty area, Boyce’s towering header was touched on to the cross bar in a fine save by Scott Bain.

County turned with the wind and the hosts exerted pressure after the restart with Jim O’Brien’s ambitious lob tipped from just under the bar by Bain.

Soon after there were howls for a home penalty as James Vincent miskicked a clearance in his own box, with County players adamant it struck his hand.

County’s impetus was halted in its tracks after 80 minutes. O’Brien went down in the area at pace under Kevin Holt’s attentions and received a second booking, this one for diving.

The 10 men had to decide whether to stick or twist – and kept pressing for a winner. That approach was to pay off in the 90th minute. Michael Gardyne, controlling and heading away from goal, was brought crashing in the box by Mark O’Hara.

Liam Boyce, with great calm, sent Bain the wrong way for a winner.

The drama wasn’t over as Mark O’Hara was booked for diving in the home box and then Danny Williams saw red for a second booking for mouthing off to the official.

Ross County: Fox, Naismith, Davies (McEveley 35) (Tumilty 79), Fraser, Van der Weg; O’Brien, Chow, Woods (Routis 26), Gardyne, Curran, Boyce. Subs: McCarey, Schalk, Lalkovic, Dow.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Gomis, O’Dea, Holt, O’Hara, McGowan, Vincent, Williams, Ojamaa (Wighton 61), Haber. Subs: Mitchell, Hateley, Ross, Klok, Higgins. Referee: John Beaton. Attendance: 2,819.