DEREK ADAMS last night watched his Ross County team be confirmed as first division champions without having to do anything themselves.
Adams was a spectator at Dens Park as Dundee were held by relegation-threatened Queen of the South, meaning the Dingwall side cannot now be caught at the summit of the division.
It had looked as though they would have to wait until their own game against Ayr United tonight when Stephen O'Donnell's shot struck team-mate Steven Milne to give Dundee the lead. However, Queens, for whom this point may prove priceless in their quest for survival, got the goal their play merited eight minutes from time when Chris Higgins nodded home.
Dundee, who now face the ignominy of watching County celebrate against them this coming weekend, face another campaign in the first division and that will be a source of regret for them. For Queens, bottom of the table, if they return to the City of Discovery on league duty next season then their remaining fixtures will have to be successful.
Dundee had their first chance after 20 minutes when Jamie McCluskey delivered a cross into the box for Ryan Conroy but despite the midfielder making decent contact with the ball, his header was blocked.
Lee Robinson, the Queens goalkeeper, was called into action five minutes later when Leighton McIntosh shot from a tight angle and he was able to push the ball around a post. Robinson was then required to scramble a Conroy free-kick away from his near post after Alan Reid brought down McCluskey 30 yards out.
Queens went close to taking the lead after the break when some good play on the edge of the area by experienced striker Sam Parkin allowed Scott McLaughlin a chance but his effort went wide of Rab Douglas' goal.
They were left to rue that miss within a minute when Dundee opened the scoring, O'Donnell's shot cannoning off Milne before spinning past Robinson.
County then got themselves a precious point with eight minutes left when Higgins got on the end of a cross from Carmichael before flicking a header past Douglas.
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