Dorrans helps Dundee to deny bragging rights
Forward shows his class with equaliser as Dens side claw back against league leaders
Graham Dorrans is really too good for this league. He proved that
JUST when they seemed set to proceed towards another derby-day celebration, Graham Dorrans defied Dundee United with a splendid equaliser as Dundee halted their city rivals’ dominance in this fixture.
Dorrans’ 55th-minute strike cancelled out Nicky Clark’s whirlwind fifth minute opener in this keenly-contested Tannadice encounter which most observers expected to witness the home team further asserting their superiority as befits their status as rampant Championship leaders.
They may still trail Robbie Neilson’s league leaders by 17 points, but here they restored a vast amount of pride for two previous demoralising defeats, and prevented the embarrassing prospect of plunging 20 points behind them heading into the New Year.
“I’ve never questioned the character of my players and they showed that tonight,” said McPake whose promotion hopefuls moved into third place in the thanks to their sterling efforts here.
“I think anyone suggesting we didn’t deserve to win that game on the balance of the second-half must have watched a different 90 minutes.
“Graham Dorrans is really too good for this league. He proved that with this goal and we’re just delighted that we’ve got him at our club.”
United made only one change from the side which defeated Ayr United
4-0 last Saturday, with Louis Appere coming in for the injured Sam Stanton.
The hosts were overwhelming favourites having beaten Dundee 6-2 at Tannadice in late August, before strolling to a 2-0 win at Dens Park in early November.
As for their rejuvenated visitors, they had won 1-0 at Partick Thistle last weekend, so manager McPake showed faith in the same starting line-up who’d left Maryhill with three precious points after defeating Dunfermline seven days earlier.
But as their manager had stressed earlier in the week, they had to firstly eradicate the costly errors which had caused them double-derby misery up until this point.
Within a mere five minutes, though, they had made the most awful start to once more find themselves trailing.
Appere’s cute pass released Jamie Robson who ghosted in behind Cammy Kerr, the Dundee full-back, who’d allowed his opponent to pass him all too easily.
Robson produced one of his trademark deliveries right onto Clark who calmly flicked his finish with the outside of his right boot to beat Jack Hamilton high into the net.
Dundee, though, didn’t buckle like they did four months or so earlier.
Indeed, they gave notice of their intention to mount a comeback in 17 minutes when Jordan Marshall scampered down the left and cut the ball back for Paul McGowan, who spun neatly and unleashed a 12-yard shot which deflected off Robson at the expense of a corner.
Then, almost midway through the first-half, they breached their opponent’s defence with the sort of move which deserved an equaliser.
It was Dorrans who crafted things with a pass to teenager Finlay Robertson who, in turn, angled a sublime pass into the path of McGowan who had advanced deep into the hosts’ penalty area.
McGowan found himself right through and, with clever presence of mind, flicked the ball up before attempting to get his shot way on his weaker left foot, only for Swiss keeper Benjamin Siegrist to dive at his feet and smother the danger.
United had been somewhat subdued since taking that early lead. It wasn’t, in fact, until after the half-hour mark that the league leaders threatened to increase their advantage.
Robson squeezed a pass through to Lawrence Shankland who had his back to goal in ominous fashion close to the penalty spot.
The Scotland striker spun well but his left-foot effort lacked conviction to allow Hamilton to gather.
Knowing a second goal would afford them some much-needed breathing space, United went on the offensive again in first-half injury-time, although Hamilton was equal to American midfielder Ian Harkes’ shot on the turn.
But the second half was only five minutes underway when Dundee carved out the equalising goal their overall play merited.
Danny Johnson and Kane Hemmings combined well wide on the right and, when Liam
Smith’s header only partially cleared the danger, it was left to Dorrans to do the rest.
The 32-year-old pounced just inside the box, driving a low shot outwith the reach of Siegrist to send the vastly outnumbered away supporters into raptures.
They sensed an upset was within their grasp. However, they were reminded of the threat United still posed as Paul McMullan’s deep 65th-minute cross was headed into the side-netting by Shankland.
The normally lethal marksman did catch a glimpse of goal in the dying minutes but Hamilton stood strong to ensure a share of the spoils for his team-mates.
“I thought it was a fair result in the end,” said United manager Neilson. “It didn’t happen for us tonight but it’s still a decent point for us at this stage of the season as Dundee were obviously desperate for the three points.”