Revenge so sweet for McCann after Moussa double sees off Saints
THIS was clearly about exacting revenge for Dundee. Having suffered recent humiliation at the hands of St Johnstone, Neil McCann’s side savoured getting their own back with his crucial last-gasp victory.
Still smarting from last month’s explosive Dens Park encounter which saw them thrashed 4-0 by yesterday’s opponents, they went some way to restoring their much-battered pride as well as taking a significant step towards Premiership safety.
Sofien Moussa, their Tunisian striker, eased the pressure for the hosts by claiming a double either side of Steven MacLean’s 85th-minute reply for the visitors, with his second of the day coming just two minutes from time to seal their first home league win this year, such has been their longrunning struggle to deliver in front of their own supporters.
It had all kicked off back in March when McCann played his own part in an ugly post-match touchline brawl, and he’d managed to spice things up further pre-match by maintaining a refusal to shake hands with Saints manager Tommy Wright, whom he described as ‘not welcome at Dens Park’.
McCann wasn’t on the touchline after being handed a one-match SFA ban earlier in the week, so took his place in the main stand instead, leaving assistant boss Graham Gartland to attempt to orchestrate things from the sidelines in what was always going to be nothing other than a pressure-pot 90 minutes.
Once the talking had stopped, though, Dundee got off to a quite breathtaking start.
Kevin Holt’s free-kick was met by Mark O’Hara, whose shot from 12 yards came back off the post. Moussa was on hand to prod home past Zander Clark with 46 seconds gone.
That helped ease the tension among the home support who’d witnessed far too many abject displays at Dens already this season, although St Johnstone midfielder Scott Tanser saw his driven volley from 22 yards fly narrowly wide.
Despite the stifling heat, there was a frenetic pace throughout. Midway through the first half, Hearts-bound MacLean put through the on-rushing George Williams, who looked blatantly offside.
But the on-loan Fulham striker was allowed to run through, only for justice to be done as he slipped just as he went to pull the trigger.
Saints were beginning to enjoy a period of dominance and their next foray forward saw Jason Kerr release Chris Millar and his cross was touched over by Dens keeper Elliot Parish.
Despite their lack of form at home, Dundee were attacking at every opportunity and showing no signs of nerves.
A second goal almost came in 44 minutes when Simon Murray’s effort from an acute angle trickled just wide of Clark’s far post.
Saints, even though on the face of it with little to play for, came close on 64 minutes. Millar’s cross was perfect for Joe Shaughnessy, whose leftfoot volley came crashing back off the bar.
They kept going and got their just rewards when MacLean slammed his finish low into the corner of the net following some poor Dundee defending — and Wright didn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate in the home dugout.
However, Moussa still wasn’t finished. Cammy Kerr’s 60-yard free-kick sailed all the way to the far post, where the big striker headed into the net.
The 30-year-old frontman, who still has aspirations to go to the World Cup with Tunisia this summer, hasn’t always convinced since arriving at Den’s Park last summer, but what an important goal this one could turn out to be in the long run.
It leaves Dundee six points above bottom-club Ross County with only four post-split matches remaining.