New boys Dee happy with big-time return
DUNDEE 2 Shaughnessy (og 44), Cummings (60) ST MIRREN 2 Brophy (4), Mcgrath (pen 54)
Proud Dundee boss James Mcpake showered praise on his top-flight new boys – and insisted even under-fire referee Craig Napier couldn’t spoil their return to the big time.
Mcpake watched his 10-man battlers twice come from behind to secure an openingday draw with Jim Goodwin’s St Mirren after young midfielder Max Anderson had been controversially shown a straight red card for scything down striker Eammon Brophy towards the end.
Dundee fell behind to Brophy’s whirlwind fourthminute opener before Joe Shaughnessy’s headed own goal got them back on level terms just before the break.
Jamie Mcgrath then fired Goodwin’s Buddies into the lead early in the second-half from a hotly-contested penalty which saw Jason Cummings deemed to have fouled Jay Henderson, before substitute Cummings came to the Dark Blues’ rescue with his 60th
minute equaliser in this fourgoal thriller.
And Mcpake refused to let whistler Napier’s display detract from what he felt was a heroic first-day showing.
He said: “I’m extremely proud of my players. The whole team showed a great mentality.
“You could see the reaction at the time. My players knew it wasn’t a penalty and the St Mirren player knew it wasn’t a penalty.
“It’s not a penalty and it’s cost us three points but let’s not take that away from the week we’ve had.”
Dundee are back in the Premiership after beating Kilmarnock in the play-offs at the end of last season. Backed by around 2,300 home supporters, the Taysiders began brightly.
But it was Brophy who gave the Buddies the lead within five minutes.
Striker partner Curtis Main head-flicked on as the Dundee defence failed to deal with the former Motherwell and Aberdeen striker’s physicality.
Brophy wasted no time in latching on to the loose ball and firing an unstoppable to the bottom corner outwith the reach of Adam Legzdins.
Mcpake’s men suffered a blow when lone striker Mullen was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle after a collision with Shaughnessy and Charlie Adam.
However, just before halftime, the hosts levelled.
Paul Mcmullan’s corner caused panic in the Saints defence and Shaughnessy headed into his own net.
Saints did start the livelier side after the break and if wasn’t long before they were rewarded for their invention.
Henderson scurried into the box but was tripped by sub Cummings who stuck out his leg in true striker’s fashion.
Napier’s decision to point to the spot sparked much anger among the home players who felt Henderson had made the most of it.
But it didn’t put off Mcgrath who remained the calmest man inside Dens as he stroked the resultant spot-kick into Legzdins’ far corner.
However, Cummings made amends with a quick-fire equaliser much to the delight of the home crowd.
Anderson sent Jordan Marshall racing down the left and the full-back’s inch-perfect low cross was immaculately swept home by Cummings from eight yards.
Dundee were then reduced to 10 men when young Anderson clattered into Brophy as he prepared to launch a counter-attack.
But they refused to buckle despite being a man down. Saints did throw everything at them, but the hosts held out in spirited fashion.