A last-gasp header from Billy Mckay rescued a point for Dundee United against 10-man Dundee at Tannadice.
This dramatic derby appeared to be over and done with but Mckay hadn’t read the script and nodded home from close range one minute into stoppage time.
The 2-2 result probably didn’t do either side any favours.United are now seven points behind Kilmarnock with a game in hand, while the visitors sit outside the coveted top six in seventh spot.
The Dark Blues took the lead on 34 minutes when Kane Hemmings slipped the ball past United keeper Eiji Kawashima.
The hitman was at it again just before half-time when he somehow managed to bundle a Greg Stewart cross over the line.
United pulled one back on 53 minutes when Dens keeper Scott Bain pulled down Mckay inside the Dundee box and he was shown the red card.
Mckay scored from the spot, pulling the hosts back into the game against a now depleted opposition.
Then the Northern Irishman capped a great day for him with his dramatic equaliser at the death.
The visitors were unchanged from the side that started the home match against Hearts last time out.
United made only one change but it was a significant one as Japanese international Kawashima came back in after injury to replace Michal Szromnik between the posts.
The scene was set beautifully as the match kicked off, with the sun shining and the stadium packed.
On two minutes, Paul McGowan let fly with a shot from outside the box that was comfortably held by Kawashima.
Up at the other end, a Blair Spittal pass found Mckay with his back to goal and on the edge of the six-yard box but he couldn’t get a strike in.
United’s Henri Anier made a great run up the left on nine minutes, squared to Spittal, who played in Mckay, whose cutback across goal was cut out.
Anier lost possession to Paul McGinn five minutes later and he raced upfield and then crossed to Stewart. There was a tussle with Coll Donaldson and the ball appeared to ricochet against both players’ hands but referee Steven MacLean waved play on.
Gadzhalov admitted defeat on 16 minutes and was replaced by Thomas Konrad.
Dundee took a bit of a hold of the game and were trying their best to get in behind the home defence but on 25 minutes Spittal had a decent chance when he fired past from inside the box.
Dundee’s Gary Harkins blasted a strike off Gunning and there were more spotkick appeals but the ball seemed to hit the Irishman in the stomach.
With the visitors pressing, sub Konrad then nodded past at the far post when you felt he really should have hit the target.
On 34 minutes, Paul Hartley’s men took the lead.
It was no surprise that Hemmings was the scorer, the Englishman slipping the ball past Kawashima after a McGowan shot was blocked and fell at his feet.
The home defence appealed for offside but Donaldson was playing Hemmings on and his shot could only be helped into the net by a despairing Gunning as he tried to clear.
The Dark Blues then lost their second central defender of the day when Konrad was replaced by Nicky Low five minutes before the break.
Gunning booted the ball over the bar for United before the Dens men made it 2-0.
With the game entering its 45th minute, McGowan picked out Stewart, who had stayed onside. He ran down the left then squared across to Hemmings.
It wasn’t the best goal he has scored he tripped over the ball before prodding it over the line but he was still thrilled and so were the Dundee fans.
United needed a lifeline and they didn’t have long to wait after the restart.
Mckay raced into the Dundee box, stepped to his left and then was pulled down by Bain.
Ref McLean pointed to the spot and then took his red card out of his pocket to send the Scotland squad man off.
Former Stranraer keeper David Mitchell came on to face the kick, with Low the unlucky subbed sub.
With the clock showing 53 minutes, Mckay confidently rolled the ball past Mitchell and it was game on again.
United enjoyed a lot of the ball against the 10 men from over the road but they had to wait until the 76th minute for a really close thing.
Sub Edward Ofere, who had replaced Anier, climbed at the back post and nodded downwards only for Mitchell to make himself the Dundee hero by making a terrific save.
On 81 minutes, the Tangerines almost got the equaliser but Gunning’s header just missed the post by inches.
Yet another cross into the Dundee box was somehow missed by Ofere right in front of goal three minutes later.
The striker then lost the plot when he punched a corner over the Dark Blues’ bar and was booked.
With just a couple of minutes to go, Dundee should have made it 3-1.
When Nick Ross broke clear he only had to square the ball to Hemmings but he took too long and the chance was gone. Hemmings must have been cursing him.
Then, remarkably, it was 2-1 in the first minute of stoppage time.
Gunning punted a long ball into the Dundee box and Ofere beat Mitchell to it.
The big man’s header flew in Mckay’s direction and he was quickest to react, nodding home to make it 2-2.
The Tangerines could have nicked all three points in the 94th minute when first Gunning’s header was saved then Donaldson fired the rebound over the bar.
Attendance: 11,603.