NOBODY would claim this Dundee team are in the same stratosphere as the talents of the club's 1962 league-winning side but yesterday's win over Queen of the South bettered their unbeaten record. The names of Sean Higgins, Craig Forsyth and Nicky Riley might not be revered in the same way as the likes of Bobby Cox, Alan Gilzean and Ian Ure are in years to come but, nonetheless, they have written their own page in history.
While lacking the individual talent of past Dens Park legends, the sheer indefatigability of this team is remarkable and goal-scorer Forsyth admits they feel a different sort of pride. "The great team from the 1960s are legends and they really put Dundee FC on the map," he said. "So it's funny to hear people mention us having beaten their record. They won the league and played in Europe so the scenarios are totally different. We're proud of the record we've got but we know we shouldn't be talked about in the same breath as the team from the 1960s.
"What we've done this season is a great achievement and we will look upon it as success if we stay up. But we know we have plenty more to do before that happens."
Things looked ominous for Barry Smith's team when Colin McMenamin put Queens ahead in the first half but goals from Higgins, who has stepped into the breach left by the departure of Leigh Griffiths, and a late header by Forsyth meant it is now 20 matches since they last tasted defeat in the league.
Dundee were made to rue not making the most of some early pressure when Queens launched a perfect counter-attack to go ahead. David Weatherson beat Dundee's high offside trap on the right before drawing goalkeeper Rab Douglas to his near post then sending a square ball for Colin McMenamin to tap in. The striker, who lost his job at Dens Park when they went into administration, did not celebrate as he walked back to the half-way line to the acclaim of his colleagues.
Dundee equalised on 65 minutes with the in-form Higgins picking up a loose ball 20 yards from goal and, seeing Hutton leaving his bottom left-hand corner exposed, coolly slotting a side-footed effort into the net.
Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Stephen O'Donnell fired a sensational effort off the crossbar from 25 yards and the rebound was snapped up by Forsyth, who headed in from three yards.