Dundee’s Greg Stewart has lavished praise on his side’s keeper Scott Bain for the “world-class” save he made in Tuesday night’s dramatic derby at Tannadice.
The Dark Blues were trailing by two goals late on when Stewart pulled one back but it seemed the Tangerines would put the game to bed once and for all when Simon Murray hit a shot which looked certain to fly into the back of the net.
Instead, Bain pulled off an incredible save to tip the ball onto the bar with Dundee then going on to secure a draw thanks to a last-gasp James McPake goal.
The keeper, who was called up to the Scotland squad in June but had to pull out because of injury, made a similar stunning stop against Aberdeen last season and Stewart rates this latest effort against United as just as good.
The striker said: “We wouldn’t have got a point in the end if Scott hadn’t made that save.
“He’s been called into the Scotland squad before and I’m sure he’ll be back in there again.
“It was a world-class save and he’s a top keeper.
“Kyle Letheren was here last year but you could see straight away in training that Scott was going to be the No.1 sooner rather than later.
“He made a great save last season against Aberdeen and that one on Tuesday was right up there as well.
“He’s come from Alloa and I was at Cowdenbeath only two seasons ago.
“It’s just a case of taking your chance when it comes along.”
Stewart’s goal came when he made space for himself before sending a left-foot shot flying into the top corner of the United goal.
That sort of strike is becoming something of a trademark for the 25-year-old and he admitted he was surprised he was allowed to get his shot off at Tannadice.
He said: “I’m getting not too bad at those goals.
“I got a bit of space. United’s Paul Dixon is an experienced player and I didn’t think he was going to let me in.
“But I managed to get half a yard and was able to put it in the corner.”
While delighted to take a point after coming back from 2-0 down, Stewart insists that Dundee have to start being more clinical in front of goal.
He added: “After the game it felt like a win
“I felt we should have been at least two goals in front during the first half but once again we were not ruthless.
“It came back to haunt us and we were 2-0 down before we started playing again with seven or eight minutes to go.
“We managed to pull it back and that’s down to the spirit we have. It shows we have a strong dressing-room.
“I don’t think we would have managed that last season, but this time round we have the boys to do that.
“We want to improve on what we did last season.
“We have been playing good football but it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not winning games.
“So we have to be more ruthless in front of goal. With Kane (Hemmings), Rory (Loy) and myself I’m sure we will start doing that.
“We need to make sure we put two halves together.”