TWO managers at contrasting ends of the career spectrum pitted their wits against each other in a pulsating Tayside derby and emerged with honours even. Derek McInnes marked 12 months in charge at Perth with a draw to stretch St Johnstone's unbeaten sequence to 10 matches and extend their advantage to four points at the top of the table. But old hand Jocky Scott, clearly relishing his return to Dens Park, ensured his youthful rival's nerves were frayed as the Dark Blues attempted a courageous second half salvage job, having slipped behind to a 28th minute goal dispatched by Stevie Milne, a striker who was once lauded by home fans. Fearful of trailing 11 points off the pace being set by St Johnstone and inspired by Scott's half-time input, Dundee dominated the second period and roused their support in a stadium hosting its biggest crowd of the season.They were good value for a 74th minute equaliser dispatched neatly by Mickael Antoine-Curier, who broke off tiring defender Kevin James to plant a low shot past keeper Alan Main.McInnes raised eyebrows among travelling supporters when he restored fragile club captain James to the backline after a three-month absence, with former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris making his first start of a campaign undermined by a hamstring ailment.Scott opted to leave Andrew Shinnie, a loan recruit from Rangers, on the bench while Gary McKenzie returned to central defence.While the diminutive Morris, whose CV includes Champions League credits, snapped into tackles, clearly intent on making up for time whiled away on a treatment tables, he tired as the game wore on.Robert Douglas plucked a rising 20-yard Kevin Moon volley from the top corner in the 12th minute and the Dark Blues relied on the pace of Brian Deasley to stretch Saints on the counter attack, with James fortunate to escape a caution when his elongated limbs sent the striker crashing to the turf.Seconds before the Perth side took a 28th minute lead, Main, fast approaching his 41st birthday, proved sprightly to handle a testing Antione-Curier header low at the post.His hoisted upfield clearance was cheekily dummied by intended target Derek Holmes, allowing Liam Craig to steal in behind the Dundee rearguard. He played in Stevie Milne and the one-time Dens favourite buried a close range shot into the corner of the net.Dundee almost snatched an equaliser seconds before the interval but Main was a match for Chris Pozniak's low snapshot. But in contrast to the first 45 minutes, Dundee swarmed forward and the Perth side lost much of their guile when Morris departed in the 69th minute.Dundee had two penalty claims dismissed by referee Brian Winter as pressure built on the visitors' defence. But they finally got the ball in the visitors' net on 74 minutes when
Antoine-Curier turned home David O'Brien's cross. Saints, however, were denied a late winner by keeper Douglas as Milne slammed a shot towards the target. Antoine-Curier should have scored in stoppage time, but lacked the composure to convert Paul McHale's subtle pass.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Williams (McHale 61), MacKenzie, McKeown, Daquin (Shinnie 55), Posniak, Antoine-Curier, Deasley, O'Brien.
Subs Not Used: Lauchlan, Davidson, Roy.
Att: 6,537
Ref: B Winter (Scotland).
Dundee looked the more sure-footed against out-of-sorts Queens. It came as little surprise when the visitors seized the initiative after half an hour through Colin McMenamin as the striker pounced from a couple of yards out to force home David O'Brien's low strike from the angle of the box. Dundee were visibly buoyed and at times were allowed to stroke the ball about at their leisure as the home support turned on the Queens players. Stephen Dobbie tried to haul the hosts back into it with a couple of long-range shots which just missed the target. But it was Dundee who should have extended their lead just before the interval, only for O'Brien to shoot straight at Queens keeper Bryn Halliwell from 14 yards.Queens emerged a livelier outfit after the break. Dobbie went close again when he was just pipped to a through ball by Dundee keeper Rab Douglas, but the visitors remained a live threat on the break and Andrew Shinnie should have doubled their lead just after the hour when he ran clear on goal and rolled his shot past the post.Queens rallied towards the end, but an equaliser wouldn't have provided a fair reflection.
