Dundee United Manager gets last laugh after injury time goal

Angry Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen had the last laugh on taunting Dundee fans after Billy McKay's last-gasp leveller in an incident-packed 2-2 derby draw at Tannadice.

The Dark Blues' supporters in the stand above the technical areas targeted the Finn verbally as their side moved into a two-goal interval lead through a Kane Hemmings double.

The Ladbrokes Premiership encounter changed four minutes after the break when Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain was sent off by referee Steven McLean for a 'last-man' tackle on McKay inside the penalty area but even after the Northern

Ireland forward had reduced the deficit from the spot, the heckling of Paatelainen continued.

When McKay dramatically headed in as the match entered four added minutes, to take the bottom side to within seven points of Kilmarnock with a game in hand, Paatelainen turned to his tormentors and cupped both his ears with police officers coming over to calm the situation.

Afterwards, he said: It was amazing how quiet it got at that stage. I can understand Dundee supporters giving us plenty of stick, there is no problem at all and it is part and parcel of the game. I can handle that, no worries. It belongs to the game but what I can't understand is stewards not doing their job. There were no stewards stopping the abuse we were getting from Dundee supporters. `What a spirited performance from the players if you want to talk about the game as well.

It was an exciting match, a proper derby and it must have been great to watch. I thought we deserved a point, if not three points.''

Asked if he felt there might be some action taken by the football authorities for his reactions, he said: No, surely not? I would be very surprised. It is part and parcel of the game. If that is the level we want to go to, something should be done about those people who said the things they said.''

Asked about his spat with one of the Dundee United backroom staff as both sides went off at the interval, after Dundee forward Greg Stewart had clashed with

United left-back Paul Dixon moments earlier, Dens Park manager Paul Hartley smiled as he said: It was great stuff, wasn't it? They felt Stewart had a kick out, we felt he didn't. But it is football and it is great.''

Hartley had to reshuffle his side throughout the afternoon, starting in the 16th minute when Thomas Konrad replaced the injured Kostadin Gadzhalov. Konrad then picked up an injury and his place was taken in the 40th minute by midfielder Nicky Low.

After Bain was sent off, Low had to be replaced by number two goalkeeper David Mitchell, making his debut after signing from Stranraer in the summer. It was exhausting,'' said Hartley.I thought the game had everything, chances and things that go against you. You plan all week and then you get certain situations. Two centre-halves coming off injured in the first half and the goalkeeper getting sent off.

At 2-0 I felt comfortable but the sending-off changed the game. I don't know

if Kevin (Holt), who is on the cover, can get around quickly enough. The game changed, we were down to 10 men and had to adjust the team, to go to a back four. They threw everything at us in terms of crosses going in but we dealt with it, we threw bodies on the line, and our attitude was magnificent. Just one lapse of concentration has cost us the three points.''

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