Dundee extended their remarkable record-breaking unbeaten run to 22 games with a dogged draw against Dunfermline at Dens.
Home defenders backed off and almost invited the midfielder to shoot, which he did with a piledriving effort from 25 yards which flew past Rab Douglas.
The Dark Blues looked to hit back before the break and Harkins worked an opening for Irvine, but his shot from 19 yards merely provided Smith with further catching practice.
The home side tried to put the Pars on the back foot at the start of the second half but struggled for openings against a compact team who had Andy Dowie screening just in front of his back four.
Dundee’s frustrations boiled over in the 52nd minute when Rhys Weston went straight through Liam Buchanan, earning the defender a yellow card.
Three minutes later Harkins played a perfect pass into the feet of Hyde who burst into the Pars’ box and hit a shot from 12 yards which Smith acrobatically tipped over.
Just after the hour mark Dundee suffered a major blow when Weston hobbled off, to be replaced by Robertson.
In contrast to the first half, both teams struggled for fluency with a resultant drop in goalmouth action. However, the travelling support had something to cheer on 67 minutes when super sub Cardle beat Irvine and cut in from the left before hitting a crisp shot which Douglas saved at the second attempt.
Dunfermline looked to put the game to bed when Buchanan created a great opening down the right but McKeown produced an outstanding block to snuff out the danger. And they were left to rue that missed opportunity when Dundee equalised in the 70th minute.
Harkins floated in a free-kick which Hyde headed in at Smith’s near post, despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Dunfermline tried to hit back immediately and a Keddie header was denied by the bar.
McIntyre threw on former Dundee striker Pat Clarke to find the winner but the home side looked the more likely to snatch a win and received a rapturous reception at the end.
Attendance 4507.Dundee Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Benedictus, McKeown, Weston (Robertson, 61), Riley, Harkins, McIntosh, Hyde, Forsyth. Subs not used-Gibson, Rennie, Bartlett, Tulleth.Dunfermline Smith, Woods, McCann, Dowie, Rutkiewicz, Keddie, McDougall (Cardle, 61), Burke (Clarke, 79), Buchanan, Hardie (Higgins, 88), Graham. Subs not used-Paterson, Higgins, Scott.Referee Mike Tumilty.
The result was a setback to the Pars’ promotion hopes, although they have not lost ground on league leaders Raith Rovers, who were held at home by Ross County.
Dunfermline took the lead through an Alex Burke screamer, his first of the season, but conceded in the second half when Dundee trialist Jake Hyde, who signed for Lochee United on Monday, capped a dream debut for the Dark Blues by heading home a free-kick.
Dundee boss Barry Smith said, “I am pleased with a point as Dunfermline are a good team. Hyde did well for us as a trialist tonight. We are extremely grateful to Lochee United for allowing him to play.
“The rest of the players also deserve great credit for responding so well in the second half after going a goal down.”
Smith’s opposite number Jim McIntyre said, “I thought it was a good game with some end to end stuff. Burkey scored an absolute peach what a strike.”
“We look for three points every game but a point at Dens is not a bad one.”
Smith made one change from the side that drew at Falkirk on Saturday, with Hyde starting in place of the injured Stephen O’Donnell.
Another Lochee United player, Craig Robertson, who was permitted to play one more game as a trialist, started on the bench.
McIntyre made two alterations to the team that beat Stirling 4-1 at the weekend with Calum Woods and Burke starting in place of Gary Mason, who was suspended after receiving a red card against the Binos, and Joe Cardle, who dropped to the bench.
Dundee were quick out of the traps, confidently spraying the ball around, and there were early signs that Hyde and teenage striker Leighton McIntosh could form a dangerous partnership.First chancesHowever, it was the Pars who came close to opening the scoring on eight minutes when a Martin Hardie header from an Austin McCann cross looked to be heading in until it was turned away for a corner by Craig McKeown.
Dundee had a great chance of their own 10 minutes after that when McIntosh spun in the box before drilling a shot that scraped the diving Chris Smith’s right-hand post.
Shortly after, Smith was called into action again when Dundee were given a free-kick on the edge of the Pars’ box after Alex Keddie fouled Nicky Riley.
Matt Lockwood hit a shot that went through the wall but straight into the grateful Smith’s arms. Hardie picked up the first booking of the game in the 29th minute after a cynical block on Gary Irvine. Dundee then worked another opening after crisp passing between McIntosh and Hyde, but Craig Forsyth’s shot from the edge of the Pars’ box again flew straight to Smith.
Then on 32 minutes, the veteran Burke opened the scoring with Dunfermline’s first shot on target-and it was well worth the wait.
Continued…