Dee edge to safety

PLAYERRATINGS Team effort staves off the threat of automatic drop

IT ALL seemed so ominous. The same story we’d seen so many times before was unfolding before our eyes as Marios Ogkmpoe bore down on the Dundee goal with 85 minutes on the clock.

Young debutant Daniel Jefferies brought the Greek striker down in the penalty area and referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Accies captain Dougie Imrie, who struck straight down the middle only for Elliott Parish to save with his legs and flip the script.

It was so unlike Dundee, who throw away leads and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

The English keeper’s save and Kevin Holt’s winning goal will grab the headlines but make no mistake, this was a real team effort from the Dark Blues.

From one through to 11 the Dee were firing on all cylinders.

Besides his late spot-kick glory, Parish commanded his box brilliantly throughout the 90, although, he didn’t have many saves to make with Accies only registering two efforts on target.

Holt, who got the game’s only goal on 18 minutes with a stinging left-foot volley inside the Accies box, made some key defensive headers and bombed on down the wing throughout.

The man in front of him, Craig Wighton, assisted Holt for his second strike of the season and ran full-backs Shaun Want and Darren Lyon ragged all afternoon.

The 20-year-old attacker, who was recently named in the Scotland U/21 squad, could’ve got a goal of his own on 53 minutes when he cut inside onto his favoured right-foot to send in a low drive only for sub goalie Ryan Fulton to stoop to save.

On the other side Cammy Kerr and Roarie Deacon were equally relentless in rampaging down the right.

The former, in particular, was in inspired form and could’ve had a goal of his own on 65 minutes when fellowDundonian Simon Murray slipped him in 30 yards from goal.

Kerr continued his run, which started on the edge of his own box, to latch on to the ball but fell at the final hurdle before he could get a shot in on goal.

In the middle of the park Glen Kamara kept his cool under pressure from Accies’ terrier Darian MacKinnon, captain-for-the-day Paul McGowan was effective in behind the striker and troubled the Hamilton goal with a dipping volley on 42 minutes.

Mark O’Hara, who lost his two front teeth i n a collision with Danny Redmond after 10 minutes, did well to last the whole of the opening period.

In behind them Steven Caulker and Darren O’Dea largely went unnoticed, which is always a strong sign of a good defensive display.

Similarly up top, Simon Murray didn’t do a great amount in front of goal but his hold-up play, movement off the ball and pressing was pivotal in getting Dundee up the park.

Boss Neil McCann had his side in for training yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s trip north to face Premiership bottom team Ross County.

Upon heading to the Highlands, Dundee are eight points clear of their opponents and know they can’t drop down automatically.

The Dee also sit six ahead of Partick Thistle in the relegation play-off spot.

It would take a disaster to end up there . . .