Dundee 3-2 St Johnstone

Mar 2 2008 Rob Fairburn At Dens Par

COLIN McMENAM IN lifted Dundee to within two points of league leaders Hamilton with a last-gasp winner.

Supermac settled a see-saw thriller against Tayside rivals St Johnstone then revealed he's desperate for a quickfire return to the SPL.

McMenamin, who joined from Gretna in January, said: "The main reason I came to Dundee is because I believe they are an SPL outfit.

"I liked the ambition of the management team and everyone at the club and we can go on to win the title.

"We would have been disappointed with 2-2 because we had been well on top but it was difficult playing against the wind in the second half.

"It looked like finishing a draw but Paul Dixon delivered a terrific cross and fortunately I got on the end of it.

"It is a massive three points and we have three huge games coming up."

Dundee made a whirlwind start and could have been four up in the first 10 minutes but the Saints defence survived.

Main threat Mickael Antoine-Curier had the ball in the net in the 35th minute when he drilled a low shot through the legs of Saints keeper Alan Main only to be flagged offside.

But the on-loan Hibs striker got his reward four minutes later with his sixth goal in four games.

The Frenchman showed great body strength to hold off a challenge before turning and unleashing a shot that took a wicked deflection off Alan McManus and eluded keeper Alan Main.

It was no more than Dundee deserved but the introduction of former Chelsea star Jody Morris on the hour appeared to change the course of the game and Saints took control.

Morris was spitting blood from his mouth after getting an elbow from Freddie Daquin in an aerial challenge that earned the Dundee winger a yellow card.

But three minutes later he marked his debut by bravely diving into a pile of bodies to send a header from Goran Stanic's cross into the corner of the net.

Before the dust settled Dundee had regained the lead with Eddie Malone's free-kick from the left picking out McMenamin who rose unchallenged to head home.

Saints levelled in the 78th minute when Andy Jackson steered Peter MacDonald's flick-on past the stranded Craig Samson.

And they could have snatched a winner with three minutes left when new signing Barry Wilson from Inverness fired wide in a goalmouth scramble.

But it was never-say-die Dundee who had the last word and with virtually the final touch of the ball McMenamin headed in at the far post.

Gutted Saints boss Derek McInnes said: "It is a hard one to take. I honestly thought when we got the second equaliser we would go on to win.

"But Hamilton scored a late goal and so did Dundee and that is why they are up there. The three goals we lost were particularly disappointing."

Dundee gaffer Alex Rae was ecstatic at scraping three points.

He said: "It was an unbelievable game to watch. Two teams were going at it hammer and tongs but to win it with the last touch is fantastic.

"Despite the result I would not rule St Johnstone out of the title race."

Dundee are waiting for news of midfielder Scott Robertson who was carried off with a hamstring injury after 54 minutes.

MoM: Curier (Dundee)