James McPake expressed his pride as he praised his players on their Premiership return and insisted even referee Craig Napier couldn’t dampen their emotion.
The Dundee manager watched his 10-man side twice come from behind to secure an opening day draw with Jim Goodwin’s St Mirren after young midfielder Max Anderson had been controversially shown a straight red for scything down St Mirren striker Eammon Brophy towards the end.
Dundee fell behind to Brophy’s whirlwind fourth-minute 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 four-goal thriller.
And McPake refused to let whistler Napier’s display detract from what he felt was an heroic first-day showing.
“I’m extremely proud of my players,” said McPake afterwards. “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. I’m not going to bash him as he’s earned his team a point.
“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.
“I don’t want the talking points to be a penalty and a red-card as I had 14 players who to a man were outstanding.
“Five of them haven’t trained properly all week so for them to go out and play against a good side like St Mirren is great.”
Backed by around 2300 home supporters, the Taysiders began brightly and Paul McGowan saw his early close-range shot deflected over the crossbar. But it was Brophy who gave the Buddies the lead within five minutes.
Strike partner Curtis Main flicked the ball on with his head as the Dundee defence failed to deal with the former Motherwell and Aberdeen striker’s physicality. Brophy wasted no time in latching onto 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 Danny Mullen was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle after a collision with Joe Shaughnessy and Charlie Adam.
However, on the stroke of half-time, 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 it wasn’t long before they were rewarded for their invention.
Henderson scurried into the box but was tripped by substitute 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 the striker 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.
“The only frustrating thing is that we didn’t capitalise with the extra man but you have to give Dundee credit for that,” said Goodwin afterwards.
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