Dundee boss John Brown expects players to fight on

Interim Dundee manager John Brown insists Dundee will continue to fight to avoid relegation following a dramatic 2-1 against St Mirren.

The Dens Park side are ten points adrift of St Mirren at the foot of the Premier League table with only 12 points left to play for.

"It's another week that we're still fighting for our lives," said Brown.

"All we can do is go into Hearts at home next Saturday, try to win the game and then worry after it."

Jim McAlister shot the visitors into a half-time lead in Paisley, but St Mirren's Steven Thompson levelled with a header after the break.

Jim Goodwin was then shown a second yellow card to hand Dundee the initiative, and Finnigan guided a header in off the bar to keep Dundee's hopes alive.

After the match, Brown said he was unhappy that the referee took so long to deal with Goodwin's persistent fouling, but the sending off certainly helped change the course of the match.

"I felt he way we were playing that we would still create chances," said Brown. "When Jim Goodwin got sent off, it gave us the chance to make a few substitutions and be more offensive - it worked out in our favour.

"I wasn't angry with Jim, I was angry with the referee for not pulling him up earlier. That's the referee's job, he sees it through his own eyes, but I saw it a different way.

"I thought he could have dealt with it sooner."

Dundee now face Hearts, while St Mirren travel to Hibernian - with the Paisley side requiring only a point from their remaining four matches to avoid the relegation zone, but Brown insists his players will not give up until it becomes impossible for them to avoid the drop.

"If St Mirren pick up a point, then that's it - it's sealed," said Brown.

"But we've got to win our games. We have four and we're looking to win all of them, but we've got to beat Hearts next Saturday.

"Whatever happens, happens - you've just got to deal with the situation.

Brown made it clear that he wants to remain in the Dundee dugout beyond the end of this season.

The Dens Park club are to advertise their managerial vacancy on Monday but the interim boss will be a firm favourite with just one league loss in seven outings.

"I'd love the opportunity," said Brown.

"Dundee is a big club and I had a great part of my playing career there."