Mcghee insists his Dark Blues are not Dun for yet
Dundee boss Mark Mcghee insists his side’s stunning comeback from two goals down in a pulsating derby at Tannadice gives them belief they can pull off a great escape.
United seemed to have the game sewn up early in the second half after establishing a two-goal lead through Nicky Clark and Charlie Mulgrew but Dundee came storming back with Danny Mullen and then Charlie Adam hitting the back of the net.
The result confirmed United’s top-six finish while Dundee have now closed the gap on 11th-placed St Johnstone to five points.
And Mcghee is adamant that Dundee can beat the drop against all the odds. He said: “There is a belief we can survive.
“Unless you have that you don’t get back into games like we did today.
“I think there is a spirit and a belief about them that one of these days they will win a football match.
“We didn’t feel sorry for ourselves when we went two goals down, we got back up again and fought our way back into the game.
“We are scoring goals again, that’s four in the last two games, and that’s massively important.
“Before, there were games we thought we had to score first and when we didn’t you worried about how we would score.
“But now we have shown we’re capable of coming back, the belief is there and we feel we can get goals.
“I am pleased with the point. Six points is more than two games we have to make a difference in but five points is two games.
“We know we have to beat St Johnstone when we play them and win one more game than them but it is only one more game and before today it was more than that.
“So it could be a really valuable point and means we go into the break before the split knowing we are in good form.
“We can take heart from that and we will come out fighting in the next five games.”
The first chance of the game fell to Dundee in the fourth minute when Jordan Marshall swung a cross in from the left but Danny Mullen headed over United keeper Benji Siegrist’s crossbar.
The home side did carve out an opportunity when Tony Watt sent a ball across goal which Liam Smith returned but Ilmari Niskanen failed to connect.
However, the United fans did not have to wait long for the opener in the 12th minute.
Dundee keeper Ian Lawlor inexplicably came racing off his line but Ross Graham won the header on the edge of the box with the ball flying to Clark who nodded into the empty net.
Dundee attempted to hit back with Paul Mcmullan sending a ball in from the right but Adam’s shot was gathered by Siegrist at the second attempt.
The Dark Blues were enjoying a spell of pressure and passed up a great chance when a driven ball from Marshall fell to Danny Mullen at the back post but his tame shot was held by Siegrist.
However, it was United who doubled their advantage in the 55th minute with a goal straight out of the top drawer.
The Tangerines were awarded a free-kick wide on the right after a foul by Jordan Mcghee and Mulgrew whipped the ball into the top corner with Lawlor stranded.
That looked to be the knockout blow but Dundee came storming back with two goals in the space of a minute on the hour mark.
First, Mullen headed home from close range after Siegrist flapped at a Cammy Kerr cross and then Adam hit a ferocious, swerving 30-yard shot past the stunned United keeper.
Marc Mcnulty should have given United the lead again shortly after but the striker blazed over Lawlor’s bar with the goal at his mercy, with the home side then breaking from inside their own half for Niskanen to tee up Liam Smith but he shot wide.
Dundee sub Niall Mcginn came close to putting his side in front when he tried an audacious lob but the ball hit the crossbar.