Dundee seal return to the top flight of Scottish football.
The unique noise of helicopter blades, when they could be heard over the raucous Dens Park crowd, told it all.
Dundee eventually clinched the SPFL Championship to return to the big time. However, talk about making it difficult for themselves. The Dark Blues were two goals up and in cruise control after just 36 minutes.
Instead of going for the kill, though, Dundee sat back and Dumbarton grabbed a lifeline from the penalty spot with 20 minutes still to play.
Then, with six minutes remaining, the visitors had another strong penalty appeal rejected when Kyle Benedictus appeared to pull back Chris Kane.
Even then, it required a full- length diving save from Kyle Letheren to keep out a Bryan Prunty header in the very last minute.
With goals appearing to go in by the minute at Hamilton, it was definitely a nervous end to proceedings for Dundee.
They got there in the end but it was a close-run affair. As the fans raced on to the park at the end, it was as much in relief as celebration. Yet it should never have come to this, not after the start their team got off to.
Christian Nade headed Dundee ahead when he flicked on a Kevin McBride free-kick after Dumbarton skipper Andy Graham had brought Nade down. In truth, Jamie Ewings should have saved Nade’s effort. When Peter MacDonald made it two 11 minutes later, cleverly heading Gary Irvine’s cross low beyond Ewings, the home team should have been able to relax.
Dumbarton were not done, though. Manager Ian Murray brought on Kane at half-time and switched to a 3-4-3 formation to try to salvage something. And it almost worked for the visitors.
Scott Agnew brought them back into contention from the spot after Willie Dyer brought down Bryan Prunty, leaving the final 20 minutes the longest in Dundee’s history.
After an agonising three minutes of injury time, referee Bobby Madden blew for time-up and Dundee could finally celebrate.
A third Dundee goal when they were still on top would have ended all the anxiety. Unfortunately, Nade’s header from Dyer’s cross rebounded off the post, then skipper Gavin Rae’s 20-yard volley was just inches over before Martin Boyle mis-kicked with just Ewings to beat.
It was typical of Dundee who have made things difficult for themselves all season. However, they got there in the end.
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