Dundee boss McCann hails 'brilliant' end to 2017
Dundee manager Neil McCann described his side's 2-0 Tayside derby success at St Johnston as a 'huge win'.
An early strike from former Saints player Marcus Haber was added to in stoppage time by a clinical breakaway strike from A-Jay Leitch-Smith.
'It's a brilliant way to end the year, to come away to St Johnstone and get our second derby victory against them,' said McCann, whose side remain two points above the bottom two.
The Perth side were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when referee Willie Collum showed a red card to full-back Richard Foster for a late tackle on midfielder Paul McGowan.
But spirited Saints came close to an equaliser when Stefan Scougall struck a post.
'I wasn't pleased with how they managed the second half,' said McCann.
'I'm not a football snob, but I felt it was on to turn St Johnstone. We invited pressure on us when we were a man up.
'But it was a huge win. With the way other results went, it was vitally important we got a win.
'The boys can go away and turn the engines down for a week and get some well-earned rest.
'I was really pleased with the first half. We looked a real threat.
'St Johnstone changed their shape and gave us a few problems in the second half. But A-Jay's goal killed it off. It was welcomed and it was a super finish.
'You always want your strikers to hit the back of the net.'
Saints manager Tommy Wright praised his short-handed side for their efforts, but admitted that Foster's dismissal had left them facing 'an uphill struggle'.
He did not dispute the sending-off, but was still unhappy with Collum's overall display.
Wright said: 'The sending-off has happened. I'm more concerned with the number of decisions we didn't get across the pitch.
'It seemed to be only our players that were getting booked for similar fouls to Dundee. But Willie sees it totally differently because he is closer to it. I probably wasn't happy with his performance overall.
'But I'm proud of my players. We should have got something out of the game. But we don't and that's the cruel world of football. I thought we were outstanding, particularly in the second half.
'They were relying on counter-attacks.
'I'm disappointed for the players but we have to learn to start the game better.
'We had a few opportunities to get back into it, but after the sending-off it was going to be an uphill struggle.
'But we changed our shape at half-time and created more than enough to get something from the game.