BAK FROM THE BRINK
Doc: We’ve not had much luck with VAR but big Bakayoko is adamant he was elbowed and that sparked our deserved win
DUNDEE might’ve finally got a big Var decision but tony docherty is adamant his side more than deserved the three points against st Johnstone.
They had fallen behind to Matt Smith’s opener but there was a moment of second-half controversy when David Munro was invited to review video footage of Liam Gordon’s penalty box challenge on Amadou Bakayoko.
Dundee have had their fair share of VAR injustices this season but this time the call went in their favour.
Munro returned and pointed to the spot, allowing Luke McCowan to level from the spot.
That set up a grandstand finale which saw Jordan McGhee grab the winner in the last minute.
Dens gaffer Docherty said: “I’ve not seen it but big Baka is adamant he has caught him flush with a big elbow.
“I’m taking the word of my player rather than VAR, I prefer to do that.
“If we got a break, we deserved a break.
“If you look at the stats and the areas we got into on the pitch the players deserve huge credit for sticking to the game plan. They got their rewards.”
Both managers made five changes apiece following their respective midweek defeats.
Dundee were at home after a heavy away schedule and were keen to make use of it.
Owen Beck was at the heart of most of their attacking play.
Aaron Donnelly headed over from his corner and then he took another short one which Lyall Cameron curled just wide.
But it was Saints who showed them they needed to have more of a ruthless side when they took the lead in the ninth minute.
Adama Sidibeh and Oludare Olufunwa combined before it was moved inside, where Graham Carey took a touch
and played it to Matty Smith and he fired a shot low past Trevor Carson.
But the Welsh international goal hero almost hit the selfdestruct button with a short pass back to Dimitar Mitov.
The Bulgarian came out and smashed it off Amadou Bakayoko but the relieved keeper got lucky as it dropped into his side-netting.
Dundee thought they had levelled in the 24th minute when Donnelly got his head on Beck’s corner and looped it over Mitov but Carey got back to hook off the line.
Saints could have doubled their halftime lead had Carson not been alert to push Benjamin Kimpioka’s effort over.
After the break the visitors had another great chance as Max
Kucheriavyi crossed for fellow sub Connor Smith to head down and allow Adama Sidibeh to connect with an overhead effort that Carson did well to push over.
They went even closer when Andrew Considine got his head on Smith’s corner but it hit the bar.
Dundee had felt aggrieved about VAR injustice but got a break when David Munro was invited to the monitor and judged that Gordon had fouled Bakayoko at a corner. There had been very little appeals for this spot kick before it was given. McCowan slotted home the penalty in the 75th minute. Dundee pushed for the winner and it was McGhee who nodded in Beck’s cross to send the home crowd into raptures.