MISSING IMPOSSIBLE

AFTER missing a penalty under zero pressure at training on Friday, Yan Dhanda could have been forgiven for hiding at the back of the queue to take one when it mattered against Falkirk.

- NEIL ROBERTSON AT DENS PARK

Instead, the on-loan Hearts player confidently accepted the huge responsibility in a crunch game for Dundee.

Deep in first-half stoppage time, Dhanda saw his shot hit Bairns midfielder Finn Yeats' hand inside the box.

The playmaker was certain it was a penalty but had an anxious wait as referee Duncan Nicolson was called to the pitchside monitor by VAR to review the incident.

Even after the whistler pointed to the spot, there was a further delay as Nicolson spoke to Bairns keeper Scott Bain but Dhanda kept his cool, calmly sending the goalie the wrong way.

The Dark Blues had sub Simon Murray sent off late on but held firm to secure a huge three points.

Steven Pressley's side remain in 10th place but are now seven points clear of rock-bottom Livingston and three ahead of Kilmarnock going into tomorrow's crunch clash with the Ayrshire side at Dens Park.

Dhanda said: "I think I've taken six penalties and scored six so I was fairly confident. I knew I was going to score.