A controversial late leveller by Dundee new boy Derick Osei saw the Dark Blues avoid a damaging defeat at Queen’s Park.
It was shaping up to be another poor night in the Championship for Gary Bowyer’s men only for his latest signing Osei to come up trumps.
The goal keeps the Dark Blues within touching distance of the top of the table and in the process denied the Spiders the chance to go clear at the top.
Their frustrations boiled over, too, with winger Dom Thomas shown a red card for dissent.
Early on it was Dundee who were unhappy with referee Barry Cook after what they felt was a handball outside the area by goalie Calum Ferrie.
The ref played on, though, saw nothing wrong before Queen’s Park got their noses in front on the half-hour through calamitous Dundee defending.
Pat Jarrett’s chance looked have gone as a Dark Blues smothered the chance only for Ryan Sweeney’s clearance to hit the Queen’s man and bounce into the net.
After the break, it was the host’s turn for calamity as a wayward Paul McMullan free-kick was misjudged by Calum Ferrie who could only palm the ball as it drifted over his head and into the net.
The Dark Blues were level for just seconds, however, as Tommy Robson smashed a fine low shot into the far corner from 20 yards.
Substitute Derick Osei passed up a huge chance on the hour, cracking the post when clean through on goal. Seconds later McMullan fired an effort off the bar.
Eventually, the leveller came with five minutes to go as new boy Osei nipped in at the far post to make it 2-2.
Queen’s Park were incensed as they felt the Frenchman was offside with Thomas eventually shown a red card for his protestations.
Cammy Kerr would send a late header wide but there would be no winner for the Dark Blues.
Team selection
All eyes were on Dundee’s starting line-up after last weekend’s surprise selection of Jordan Marshall at left wing.
This was a far more conventional affair with Marshall back to his usual left-back and Cammy Kerr back on the right.
It was a straight 4-4-2 this time, however, with Zach Robinson paired with Zak Rudden in attack.
Tactics were direct from the Dark Blues, going long to the front two and playing from there.
That plan, though, suffered a blow on 34 minutes.
Zach Robinson
On-loan Robinson has recently established himself as Dundee’s best bet up top.
He scored twice against the Spiders at the start of September and started this one well.
Robinson was a focal point for the Dundee backline to hit, going direct to the young striker.
And he was getting the better of the Queen’s Park defence before he went down on 34 minutes.
From there, the Dark Blues lost their route up the pitch with Rudden struggling to hold the ball up.
They regained that somewhat in the second half and got themselves back into the game.
Osei goal
The big moment came with just minutes remaining.
New boy Derick Osei had looked far sharper on this showing than his previous displays.
A sprint through on goal was only missing the finish as he beat the keeper but struck the post.
And he got his first goal in Scottish football, showing a poacher’s instinct at the far post to turn home.
The home side, though, were absolutely furious it wasn’t ruled out for offside.
Lee Kilday was booked for his protests in the face of the assistant referee.
And the protests continued and continued before the referee lost patience and sent Thomas off for one word too many.
Manager Owen Coyle, too, had his say at the final whistle.
VAR anyone?
Queen’s Park
The former amateurs are now level at the top of the Championship after this point. And they felt it should have been three.
That’s quite a story.
From lower-league anonymity for decades to a Premiership promotion challenge in just a few short years.
The last time Queen’s Park finished higher than Dundee was 1937/38 – could that be about to change?
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