Saints’ penalty was spot on, says Goodwin
Jim Goodwin admitted St Mirren’s penalty was “soft” – but insisted it was still the right decision.
Goodwin conceded there wasn’t much contact that led to Jay Henderson earning a second-half spot-kick and Jamie Mcgrath putting the Buddies back into the lead at Dens Park.
But the Paisley gaffer maintained under-fire referee Craig Napier still called it right to award his side the flashpoint penalty.
Goodwin said: “The game has gone soft.
“James told me he was disappointed and, if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d have probably felt the same.
“But, when I watched it back, there is a coming together.
“It’s very clumsy and Cummings doesn’t mean it, but Henderson gets ball-side and there is a tangle of legs.
“Cumming also puts his hand on Henderson’s shoulder and, in the modern game, it is a penalty.”
Saints had the extra man for the last 20 minutes after Max Anderson’s ordering-off, but their manager felt they missed an opportunity to chalk up a first-day victory on Tayside.
He added: “It was a decent game. There wasn’t a great deal between the teams in the first half.
“A draw was probably fair at the break, albeit we are disappointed at how we conceded the equaliser.
“We started the second half well and had more control.
“When we have the extra man, you would expect the game to play out the way it did.
“The only frustrating thing is we weren’t able to unlock the Dundee defence, but you also have to get them credit.
“They defended the box very well and maybe we could have been a bit cuter.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t win but coming away to a promoted club on the opening day, when there is excitement and buzz, we should be relatively pleased with the point.”
Goodwin was full of praise for his strike pairing of Eamonn Brophy and Curtis Main, who caused the Dundee defence no end of problems.
He said: “Main and Brophy complement each other well. You saw that from the first goal.
“Eamonn knows why he is here and what he’s paid to do. I won’t be putting him under any extra pressure.
“He’s a natural goalscorer and you don’t need to tell him to take a shot, which I like.
“That finish wasn’t an easy one – it’s a difficult chance and he’s produced a great strike on his weaker left foot.
“It was an unstoppable striker and he will have a very good season. I have no doubt about that.”