I’VE SET THE BENCHMARK
McGowan: Boss right to make me sub but after goal I want place back FIRHILL TONIGHT, 7.45
PAUL McGOWAN admits Dundee boss Paul Hartley was right to bench him against Hearts – but the midfielder wants his place back at Firhill.
The fans’ favourite was a super sub in a Friday night Dens Park thriller as the Dark Blues came from 2-0 down to claim a sensational 3-2 victory over the Jambos.
McGowan had to settle for clicking his heels on the bench having been suspended for the trip to Celtic Park the previous weekend.
The midfielder, who hit the equaliser after coming on, insists he wouldn’t dream of questioning his gaffer’s decision but is hoping his second-half impact has given Hartley food for thought.
McGowan said: “I don’t take my place for granted. I never have done and never will. That’s not me.
“I’d no grievance with the manager’s decision to start me on the bench, although obviously I wasn’t happy.
“To be fair, the boys did well in the game before at Parkhead when I was suspended. Nobody deserved to drop out. I know though what I bring to the team.
“But I proved what a good character I am by going on and making some sort of difference. I will never let it affect me.
“I got the goal and had a hand in the other one after it which shows I am all for doing what’s best for the team.
“I’m used to being a starter and that’s the first time I’ve been a sub in I don’t know how long. But I was happy with my response and, more importantly, the end result.”
Dundee are still buzzing from their Hearts comeback and McGowan hailed it one of his finest moments in football.
He said: “It’s probably the best feeling you can have, coming from 2-0 down and winning in stoppage-time.
“It’s up there with the best celebrations we’ve had. The boys were buzzing in the dressing room at the end and quite rightly so. We were dead and buried so I couldn’t have seen us coming back.
“All credit to the guys, we stuck at it and got the goals we deserved. Hearts are a great side. They have some top players. It’s a massive three points when you consider how tight the league is.”
While proud of Friday’s fightback the last thing Dundee want is having to pull another comeback win at Firhill.
And McGowan believes there’s no chance of them starting so slowly again having learned their lesson from last week.
He said: “If we hadn’t won we could have gone bottom, now we’re seventh.
“In this wee mini period before the winter break, we want to get as many points as possible. We can worry a bit less about what’s behind our back.
“But it’s only part of the job done. There’s still a lot of work to be done.
“Every game’s massive, including Thistle. The gaffer won’t let us start so slowly. If we can put a few wins together, we could push away from the area where we don’t want to be in.”