Ashley Hay scrambled in a stoppage-time winner on his comeback from injury to secure Dundee a 2-1 victory at Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.
The striker, out since early August with a ligament sprain, converted from close range after latching on to Ethan Hamilton’s free-kick in the first minute of added time.
His goal completed the turnaround after Owen Bevan’s second goal for the Dark Blues had cancelled out Jacob Murrell’s first-half penalty at Falkirk Stadium.
Dundee mustered five attempts on target by the 26th minute and looked dangerous on every forward raid. Lewis Neilson, in for Deniss Melniks in Falkirk’s only change from their last outing at St Johnstone in September, blocked a goalbound Bradley Fink volley inside 60 seconds.
Then, after 12 minutes, Drey Wright spied Scott Bain well out of goal and tried to embarrass him from 60 yards. The quickly-taken free-kick was on target and forced Bain to backpedal smartly to tip over the crossbar.
Falkirk had toiled to craft a chance from open play but were gifted the opportunity to lead in the 31st minute.
Finley Barbrook, with his back to goal, went down under a clumsy challenge from Callum Jones and American striker Murrell made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Falkirk settled thereafter and could have been two up by the break when Bain released Leon McCann with a long ball to split the visiting defence – but the full-back was hesitant in going for goal and, once under pressure, his lobbed attempt bounded wide.
Dundee drew level seven minutes into the second period. Joe Bevan did well to keep the ball in play from a corner and Wright clipped a cross back into the danger area where Owen Bevan towered to nod home from six yards.
Fink fired home in the 63rd minute but was swiftly denied by an offside flag rubber-stamped by VAR.
Dundee keeper Owen Goodman was at full stretch to deny both Murrell and Ben Krauhaus.
At the other end, Fink then Joe Bevan offered weak finishes and it looked like a share of the points was in order.
But a stoppage-time set piece swung in by Hamilton hit off Hay who reacted smartly to force home.
In a frantic finish, Goodman touched on to the bar in a goalmouth melee at the other end to preserve the points.
What the managers said…
Dundee manager Steven Pressley:
“I really couldn’t be prouder of them.
“When you consider the adversity this group has faced, it’s an amazing result and achievement.
“It ranks very highly, for me. You’re 1-0 down at half-time, and we had Joe Bevan really struggling. Physios said he might only last another 10 minutes. I used the word ‘grit’ at half-time and reminded him on the pitch.
“We had to show a lot of that to come back in this game.
“It was a very appropriate word for the second half performance.
“It was gritty, determined and guys like Joe are really growing in stature and mindset.”
Falkirk boss John McGlynn:
“We are disappointed, we’re gutted.
“We should’ve taken something from it, but we’ve found a way to lose it.
“We have to show a lot more character and personality.
“If you give away a free-kick, we have to defend it better.”
What the result means and next fixtures…
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
