Supersub Nelson rose to the occasion to seal Dens win
James McPake watched super sub Andrew Nelson notch Dundee’s first Championship win – then revealed it was an agonising decision to leave him out.
Nelson was the hero for McPake’s men as he climbed off the bench to hit the all-important 74th minute winner to get the Dark Blues’ league campaign up and running following their opening-day 2-2 draw with Dunfermline.
The 21-year-old striker sunk Ayr with a textbook late header to spark delight among the home supporters who’ve set their sights on sealing a quick-fire return to the Premiership following last season’s relegation.
And McPake told how he felt for the former Sunderland ace as he chose to start without him.
McPake said: “Andy probably feels hard done by. It was a tough decision to leave him out but that’s football for you.
“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 Kane Hemmings his first start on returning to the club earlier in the week on a three-year deal from Notts County.
Skipper Jamie Ness also gave the hosts a boost by recovering from injury to take his place in central midfield.
Ayr, though, created the first chance in eight minutes when Michael Moffat out-muscled Dundee defender Jordan
Forster, and advanced towards Jack Hamilton’s goal only for his touch to let him down.
Hemmings was looking lively. The former Rangers youngster latched on to Paul McGowan’s pass, but saw his shot deflected narrowly over the bar for a corner, before Steven Kelly’s freekick at the other end fizzed just over.
The visitors were dangerous on the break as proved in 18 minutes. Alan Forrest left the Dundee defence
trailing, and it was down to Hamilton to deny them the breakthrough with a firm one-handed save.
Ayr were screaming for a penalty in 40 minutes when Forrest went down under a challenge from Cammy Kerr, but referee Newlands had none of it.
Paul McGowan tried his best to open the scoring in the second half when he sent a cute chip from inside the box just wide of Doohan’s far post.
Forrest had another golden opportunity in 67 minutes as he found himself right through on goal after a moment of hesitation from the Dundee defence, but his low shot was turned round the post by Hamilton.
However, sub Nelson struck in 74 minutes. Jordan Marshall’s pin-point cross was perfect for the ex-Sunderland ace who planted a downward header past Doohan from close-range.
Substitute Josh Todd should have killed the contest right at the end but he fired weakly at Doohan.
Somerset Park manager Ian McCall said: “I’m just absolutely gutted with the officials.
“I don’t know why the referee didn’t give a penalty. Is it because Ayr United are a so-called smaller club?”