Ross County hang on for point at Dundee after Davies red card
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ROSS County extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 3-3 Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership draw at Dundee on Saturday, with a red card for their skipper Andrew Davies central to the outcome.
Both sides came into the Dens Park encounter on the back of very contrasting results,
While County had crushed Falkirk 7-0 in the Scottish League Cup, Dundee had six days previously lost 6-0 away to champions Celtic and were in need of a lift.
There was even the chance of County leapfrogging Hearts into third place by Saturday night and it looked on the cards as the visitors established a 3-1 lead before Dundee's recovery was sparked by the red card and a converted penalty.
Davies, Michael Gardyne, Marcus Fraser and Martin Woods all returned to the County starting 11 and the Staggies flew out the traps.
Referee Craig Thomson waved away a County penalty appeal in the opening moments after Julen Etxabeguren clashed with midfielder Jackson Irvine in the box.
County took the lead on 19 minutes when a cracking run from Irvine saw him then feed the ball to Northern Ireland forward Liam Boyce, who fired a shot past keeper Scott Bain for his 10th goal of the season following on from his midweek hat-trick in the cup.
However, Dundee hit back just one minute later when Greg Stewart made the best of the space available to hit before sending a shot into the net from 18 yards, leaving Scott Fox no chance.
Home skipper Kevin Thomson was lucky to still be on the pitch when he was booked for a foul on Irvine then swiftly after that fouled Fraser but avoided seeing red.
County though were back in front on 37 minutes when former Hibs captain James McPake headed past his own keeper when he was put under pressure by striker Brian Graham.
Two minutes before half-time, the Dingwall side went 3-1 up when former Dundee United winger Michael Gardyne hooked a header over Bain into the net.
There was plenty, therefore, for the vocal travelling support to be happy about as they enjoyed the interval with their side seemingly on course for victory.
The turning point came on 54 minutes, however, when Davies was sent off for a second bookable offence for barging in the box.
Rory Loy then drilled home the penalty and the home supporters sensed the chance for their team to get at least a point with the scores at 3-2 for the visitors.
Dundee three everything at County and equalised on 69 minutes when Loy netted after being teed up by Paul McGinn.
County then survived a call for a penalty when sub Stewart Murdoch brought down Stewart in the box but again play was waved on.
Dundee defender Kevin Holt almost sealed maximum points for his team late on but keeper Fox kept out his shot to keep County's unbeaten run on-going.
Hamilton's 2-1 win at Kilmarnock saw County slip one spot in the end but they are still just one point behind third-placed Hearts, who held Celtic 0-0 in Glasgow.
Such has been the turn around at Ross County since Jim McIntyre and assistant Billy Dodds took over more than a year ago that they are being linked to the job created at Dundee United following the axe falling on manager Jackie McNamara.
McIntyre and Dodds, former United players, along with Inverness CT's Scottish Cup winning boss John Hughes are all on the radar, according to reports, but the main focus for the Highland clubs this week will be to get their teams all set for Saturday's league derby, the first of the season, at the Global Energy Stadium.
Dundee: Bain, Holt, Etxabeguren, McPake (Konrad 73), McGinn, Calder, Thomson (Harkins 68), Ross, Stewart, Loy, Hemmings (Healey 73).
Ross County: Fox, Robertson, Graham (Boyd 54), Davies, De Vita (Foster 72), Woods (Murdoch 46), Reckord, Irvine, Gardyne, Boyce, Fraser.
Referee: Craig Thomson.
Attendance: 5,128.
