THEY played the theme from The Great Escape over the Tannoy at half-time at Dens Park last night, showing that, despite everything, they've at least managed to retain a sense of humour.
This has been one of the most tumultuous weeks in Dundee's recent history; the sacking of Barry Smith and appointment of John Brown as his temporary replacement causing schisms between the ordinary supporters and the fans-elected board of directors. There would at least be some relief on the pitch last night, Dundee twice recovering from falling behind to grab a draw in Brown's first match in charge.
It's unlikely, though, that this point, however welcome, will save them from falling through the trapdoor and back into the first division – they remain 15 points behind second bottom Hearts with just 10 games remaining.
At least, though, Dundee are showing a willingness to go down fighting. This, of course, was only the warm-up act ahead of the main event, and Brown was heartened by his team's performance ahead of Sunday's William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with old foes Dundee United.
That his players kept going to find a late equaliser despite playing the last 25 minutes with just 10 men after Declan Gallacher's red card only added to the achievement, no matter how insignificant in the bigger picture. "The spirit since I came in from the lads, given the week they've gone through, has been fantastic," said Brown. "We've stuck at it and got a point, and that was the least that we deserved. We're ready for anything; we're not frightened of anybody. United have a great record and a good team but it's 11 versus 11."
The new manager, however, could do little to stop old failings creeping in again. Brown, on the occasion of his official unveiling earlier in the week, had praised Dundee's unflagging spirit but bemoaned a lack of quality in the opposition penalty box. Unsurprisingly two days' training was not enough to turn all that around.
A 4-4-1-1 formation, with Gary Harkins in behind John Baird, caused St Johnstone problems, only for errant finishing to too often let Dundee down. In the opening 30 minutes alone, Harkins headed wide from Nicky Riley's cross, Ryan Conroy had a free kick well parried by Alan Mannus, Baird fired wide, Riley had a header saved, before Mannus stopped another Conroy free kick then denied Baird from the rebound.
And then, against the run of play, St Johnstone scored. It was harsh on the home team and not the way Rab Douglas would have wanted to commemorate his 300th Dundee appearance. The goalkeeper was unconvincing as he moved to parry Paddy Cregg's long-range shot, only able to redirect the ball up into the air. Steven MacLean was the quickest to react, leaping to nod the ball into the net.
Perhaps mindful of the prospect of a half-time tongue lashing from their new manager, Dundee struck a post through Harkins then finally found the net seven minutes after falling behind. Conroy's corner was glanced on by Lewis Toshney and Baird was in the right place to poke it over the line for the equaliser.
It was his first league goal at home since signing from Raith Rovers last summer, and Dundee's first in the league since January 19 when Baird also scored. Brown later revealed it was the result of a set-piece practised in training just the previous day.
That sparked a rush of optimism among the home support but their heroes returned to their profligate ways in the second half. To be fair, a lot of that was to do with Mannus, the goalkeeper doing well to keep out a Toshney shot, before similarly denying Conroy from close range. Dens Park groaned in frustration. They had seen this movie many times before.
Worse was to come. Gallacher mistimed his tackle as he tried to halt MacLean's run and referee Willie Collum had no hesitation in sending him off. From the resultant free kick, Mackay curled the ball into the top corner. And him a former Dundee player too. That seemed to be that but there would be one final twist in the tale, Mark Stewart wriggling free of the offside trap to grab a late equaliser that Dundee's endeavour undoubtedly merited.
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