Bain’s fizzing form lights up Dundee
YET another champagne display left Dundee’s heroic goalkeeper Scott Bain expecting to be the recipient of the finest fizz.
Yet i nstead of some Moet or Lanson waiting for him at the end, the 23-year- old’s reward from the sponsors at Dens Park was a more modest bottle of Prosecco.
‘Times are tight,’ chuckled Bain. ‘I think the lads are going to have a whip-round for me!’
At the end of a vintage week for the goalie, however, nothing was going to leave the bubbly Bain (below) feeling flat. Last midweek, his stunning save from Dundee United’s Simon Murray provided the platform for James McPake to rescue a dramatic point with a 94th-minute leveller in a thrilling derby.
Bain’s manager Paul Hartley insisted afterwards that he had never seen a better save, but the keeper tried to outdo it on Saturday. This time he added another super stop to his burgeoning collection, somehow tipping over a looping shot from St Johnstone f orward Graham Cummins to keep the score at 1-0 in Dundee’s favour.
‘It was a good save,’ smiled Bain (below) after his side’s 2-1 win over their other Tayside rivals.
‘I wasn’t sure if their guy was going to reach it because he was a bit far away but somehow he got to the ball with his outstretched leg. It was going in and I had to jump as high as I could. Luckily, I managed to flick it over the bar.
‘Was it better than my save in midweek? No chance! That was against United!
‘It was unbelievable to make that save and to then see us going up the other end and scoring. I’ve seen footage of United fans celebrating, t hinking t he ball was already in the net.
‘I remember thinking the game was over but then we broke up the park and I was j ust praying we scored. Luckily we did. It was one of those great moments.
‘But I can’t believe the manager said he’s never seen a better save. He should — he’s worked with me every day for four years now,’ laughed the former Alloa keeper.
Bain was called up by Gordon Strachan for the June internationals against Qatar and Ireland. It meant he had to cancel a pre- booked holiday to Australia to visit girlfriend Erin during a round-the-world trip. Sadly, injury forced him to pull out of the squad and, while he would love to earn a recall, he expects David Marshall, Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor to get the nod as usual for next month’s vital Euro 2016 qualifiers in Georgia and at home to world champions Germany. ‘You are always hopeful of getting called up for your country,’ he said. ‘But the three keepers Scotland have are first-class. They are on another level. So the only way I would get in is if there was an injury and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I will just keep playing well for Dundee and hopefully be in t he Scotland manager’s thoughts.
‘I ended up going away to Australia in June at the last minute to see my girlfriend after pulling out of the squad. It worked out for me, but I’d still rather have been away with Scotland. Luckily, my girlfriend doesn’t read the papers…’
If Bain hogged the limelight on Saturday, it was Nicky Low — on his full debut for Dundee — who set up both goals f or as strong and entertaining a Dens Park side as there has been for years.
First, Low’s corner was stabbed home by captain McPake for his second derby goal in four days. Then, before t he break, t he f ormer Dons midfielder picked out Kane Hemmings to head home for 2-0.
It would not be Dundee this season if they did not fade in the second half but, despite Steven MacLean pulling a goal back, Hartley’s side held on to beat Saints at home for the first time since March 2008.
Nick Ross and Hemmings both passed up chances to add deserved gloss to the scoreline and it was little wonder that at full time the PA system started blasting out That’s Entertainment by The Jam.
On this form, Hartley’s men will head up the A90 next weekend full of confidence for an intriguing match against on- f orm Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
‘It’s been a decent start to the season, but if we had dropped points against St Johnstone it wouldn’t have been so good,’ said Bain.
‘At the time I made my save we weren’t playing too good. We were 1-0 up but that spell was probably the poorest we’ve played since the season started. They had a good spell for 15 minutes but we got through it.
‘But we were playing after a tough game against United and we dug in despite a dodgy second half again. We held on to the points and we are now on seven points.