Dundee will definitely be playing Premiership football next season following this narrow win over Ross County in Dingwall.
The Dark Blues’ safety had all but been assured with their victory over Hamilton at the weekend but boss Neil McCann had warned there was still work to be done before it was a mathematical certainty against a Staggies side staring relegation in the face.
And it was mission accomplished thanks to a solitary second-half goal by Simon Murray, the striker’s first since February.
McCann made two changes from the team that had beaten Hamilton 1-0 at Dens on Saturday.
Mark O’Hara, who lost his two front teeth in an accidental clash early in the Accies game was missing from the squad while Roarie Deacon was on the bench.
Lewis Spence, who came on for O’Hara, retained his place against the Staggies while Randy Wolters was handed his first start since a previous game with Hamilton back at the end of October.
Steven Caulker, who had been struggling with injury, was passed fit and lined up alongside Darren O’Dea in the centre of defence.
County thought they had got off to the perfect start in just the second minute when Michael Gardyne fired a free-kick in from the left with Billy Mckay lashing home at Dundee keeper Elliott Parish’s back post but the “goal” was disallowed for offside.
Shortly after, Mckay was responsible for a late, reckless challenge on Dark Blues skipper Paul McGowan and was booked by referee Andrew Dallas.
Dundee had another big scare in the 13th minute when Davis Keillor-Dunn swung a corner in from the left with Liam Fontaine shooting wide from close range when he should have at least hit the target.
McCann’s men were struggling to get out of their own half, pinned back by a determined home outfit who were drinking in the last chance saloon as far as their Premiership status was concerned.
Home keeper Scott Fox was finally called into service in the 24th minute when McGowan hit a superb cross-field pass to Wolters who advanced before hitting a low angled drive from just inside the Staggies box with the keeper saving comfortably.
As the half-hour mark came and went, the game entered a period of stalemate with both sides struggling to find any fluency.
The Dark Blues did have the next opportunity in the 36th minute when full-back Kevin Holt, who scored the winner against Hamilton, sent a shot fizzing just inches past Fox’s left-hand post from 18 yards.
The half ended deadlocked with Dundee needing to create a whole lot more in the final third after the break if they were to leave the Highlands with all three points.
County made a change in goal at the start of the second 45 with Aaron McCarey replacing Fox between the sticks.
The home side had a superb opportunity just seconds after the restart when Jason Naismith sent a cross in from the right but Keillor-Dunn wasted the chance, blasting well over Parish’s bar.
Holt then played a telling pass to Craig Wighton just inside the Staggies box but the front man could not get his shot away.
However, Dundee took the lead in the 51st minute. Wolters dug out a cross from the left with the ball bouncing and Murray reacting sharply to send a header looping into the back of the net with the striker wheeling away in delight towards the travelling support.
Keillor-Dunn then had another chance but Parish pounced to save his header.
Staggies were throwing everything they could at the Dark Blues but McCann’s men held firm and looked a big threat on the break.
Dundee had a chance to increase their lead in the 74th minute when the ball broke to substitute Faissal El Bakhtaoui but the striker fired well over.
Eight minutes later, County sub David Ngog had a gilt-edged chance to equalise as he made space for himself in the opposition penalty area but having done all the hard work, he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Then in the 85th minute, Murray broke from inside his own half before playing a pass to McGowan with the midfielder hitting a curling effort from the edge of the County penalty area with the ball agonisingly hitting the far post.
The home side had a big shout for a penalty denied by referee Dallas when Gardyne fell under a challenge from El Bakhtaoui with the official deciding to book the County player for diving.
However, Dundee then almost made it two but McCarey produced a superb stop from a Murray shot.
Attendance – 3,976.
Ross County – Fox (McCarey, 45), Fraser, Naismith, Gardyne, Schalk (Curran, 74), Davies, Draper, Lindsay, Mckay (Ngog, 81), Fontaine, Keillor-Dunn.
Subs not used – Souttar, Dow, Melbourne, Kait.
Dundee – Parish, Kerr, Holt, Caulker, O’Dea, Kamara, Murray, McGowan, Wolters (Deacon, 62), Spence (Kusunga, 87), Wighton (El Bakhtaoui, 69).
Subs not used – Ferrie, Leitch-Smith, Aurtenetxe, Piggott.
Referee – Andrew Dallas.
