5. Dundee win the Championship title
Quite often in this series, it hasn’t just been what teams have done. It’s been the way they’ve done it.
And in this case, it could hardly have been more dramatic. Even in the away enclosure of Dens Park, watching Dumbarton as very much the underdogs, there was a lot to be said for attendance on Tayside on Saturday, May 3.
The scenario was simple – a win for Dundee and they were on their way back to the top flight after only a season away. Failure by Hamilton Accies to win at home to Morton would also do the job, but as we’ve already established in this countdown, that wasn’t quite the case.
Half time arrived with the deal looking done. Christian Nade had given Dundee the lead and then Peter MacDonald, just as he did in the other three games against Sons over the season, scored to widen the gap. This, though, was a Dumbarton side who on several occasions this season had shown real battling quality. Giving up wasn’t on their agenda.
A Scott Agnew penalty conversion sent most of the bumper Dens Park crowd very quiet. Another goal and, with Hamilton already running riot, the helicopter was changing direction. Then with eight minutes left Sons’ Chris Kane chased a through ball only to go down under Kyle Benedictus’ challenge.
Referee Bobby Madden said no to the appeals. And with the final whistle imminent, Bryan Prunty asked one last question of Dundee. His effort was saved at point blank range.
In the end the Dark Blues survived to become champions. But this was an afternoon for the neutrals every bit as much as home fans.
4. Raith Rovers win the Challenge Cup
Some cup finals are viewed as a write-off by much of the national media from the word go.
Manchester United v Millwall 2005 prevailed as such. Hearts v Gretna 2006 only just saw the favourites triumph. Raith Rovers v Celtic 1994 – we know what happened there.
Twenty years later Raith were back in a final as the underdogs. But this was different. Against Rangers in the Challenge Cup final, they were the team in the HIGHER division. Yet in the eyes of many of the press, it was a simple matter of how many they would be beaten by at Easter Road.
Even though it was the same ground where they had already famously booted Hibernian out of the Scottish Cup, already featured in this series.
The contest rumbled on without a goal as chances came and went for both sides. The full time whistle arrived with neither goal being breached, but still those tipping Rangers for the honours weren’t worried. They’d surely do it in extra time.
But the longer the added half hour went on, the more doubts crept in. And with four minutes left, John Baird created space in the area and fired home the goal that won the cup for Raith.
Addendum: Yep, on reflection, St Johnstone’s Scottish Cup victory should have been ranked closer to this position. It’s a first go at doing this series and mistakes are made to be learned from.
Number 3 will be published on Monday, December 22.
The Dumbarton Terrace 