Dundee back in the big time: Story of extraordinary night against Queen's Park at Ochilview

Dundee are back in the big time. It’s not the romantic story many might have yearned for but it’s hard to argue it is undeserved after the Dens Park side scored five times at the temporary home of the team who had begun the evening as their nearest challengers.

But this wasn’t the whole story at Ochilview. Not the half of it, in fact. Queen’s Park contributed hugely to this engrossing match, just as they have the entire season. The leadership of the division changed twice in the opening 17 minutes. It was that kind of game. That kind of season. No one has appeared to want to take firm control or even seemed capable of doing so.

It was a lesson in not speaking too soon. Or singing too soon in the case of the Dundee supporters, who twice in the opening half were minded to chorus “We’re going to win the league!,” before their side were pegged back in dramatic fashion by a dogged and at times inspired Queen’s Park.

They chased Dundee in remorseless fashion – and indeed manoeuvred their way in front of them for a five-minute spell near the start of the first half – before running out of steam in the second period, eventually going down 5-3. They might have shaken off their amateur ethos but they were heroic in their own way here. Dundee ‘keeper Adam Legzdins’ marvellous save from Connor Shields three minutes after the re-start proved a defining moment: it was 3-3 at the time.

Dundee players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Championship in dramatic fashion, overcoming Queen's Park 5-3 at Ochilview.

Every time the 1000 Dundee fans behind the goal started to believe they were on the way, Queen’s Park had a habit of getting in the way. It was normally in the form of a stunning goal. Even centre halves were scoring worldies. Charlie Fox struck two of them. One via a flying header on the stroke of half time, the other from fully 30 yards.

Dundee were having to do it the hard way. At times you wondered whether they might have to match the seven goals they struck against Hamilton Accies recently if they wanted to take their place in the top flight. In the end five was enough. Just.

Queen’s Park kept coming back at them. A club so close to reaching Scotland’s top division for the first time since the 1950s were hardly going to surrender this potential prize without a battle. Gary Bowyer, the Dundee manager whose own future remains shrouded in doubt, earned his corn, replacing winger Luke Hannant with Ben Williamson at half time in a bid to give Dundee some purchase in the middle of the park.

The visitors scored twice more after half time to secure a return to the Premiership and win the First Division/Championship for the fifth time since reconstruction in the mid 1970s. Yo-yoing never seemed so much fun as their fans swarmed on at the end.

It was a tough night for Queen's Park manager Owen Coyle, who was goaded by some Dundee fans at full time.

The teams shared half a dozen goals in a breathless opening half. Lyall Cameron put Dundee ahead again after 53 minutes with a neat finish into the corner after Alex Jakubiak had diverted the ball into his path. A fine solo goal from winger Luke McCowan with nine minutes left finally nailed it on the line for Dundee. They finished five points clear of Queen’s Park, who slipped to third in the final analysis after being supplanted by Ayr United.

Dundee had strengthened their position within four minutes but any comfort gained was short-lived. Jakubiak struck the game’s opener but home defender Malachi Boeteng contributed hugely after tripping over the ball just outside his own six yard box. Cameron squared the ball and Jakubiak swept a left footed shot beyond Calum Ferrie.

It was the early goal Dundee wanted. The early goal Queen’s Park dreaded. It was expected to settle Dundee. Within another eight minutes, they were 2-1 down. Not only that. They were off the top of the league. It was a disastrous spell of football for the visitors but an inspired few minutes for the hosts, who scored the goal of the game to equalise after ten minutes.

Fox swung his foot at the ball after Hannant’s attempted hooked clearance. The defender watched as his shot soared over Adam Legzdins into the top corner. Two minutes later Queen’s Park were in front. The ball bobbled around the Dundee goalmouth after a corner before reaching Shields beyond the far post. The striker hooked the ball back into the net past Legzdins. The Dundee ‘keeper had barely touched the ball and had already conceded twice.

Zach Robinson and Luke McCowan were on target for Dundee.

The onus was now on the visitors to force the issue. Defenders Ryan Sweeney and Ashcroft stayed up after a free kick and were right to have done so. McCowan sent an inviting ball towards the far post where Sweeney rose well to head across to his centre-half partner Ashcroft, who hooked into the net like a No 9. 2-2. Dundee were back in pole position. Just 16 minutes were on the clock. Anyone still enjoying the unique pastime of league ladders would have been getting numb fingers by this stage as they switched the flimsy cardboard tabs back and forth.

The visitors came close to scoring again when Barry Maguire’s effort looped up off the synthetic turf and hit the bar before going over. Dundee's third goal was only delayed. Zach Robinson forced the ball home after 33 minutes after good work from Jakubiak following a long goal kick up the middle. It was one of the untidiest goals you’ll see, completely out of keeping with the game up to that point. But they all count. Not that it solved Dundee’s anxiety problem. They remained fragile in defence.

Every time the ball entered their box it looked like they might concede, and they did again – on the stroke of half time. Another corner caused panic in the box, Sweeney lost his man and Fox stooped to score another equaliser. The dream flickered on for Queen's Park but was firmly extinguished in the second half as Dundee managed to have the final say at last.