Sam Dalby savours scrapping in the rough and tumble at Dundee United. And the hero says seeing gaffer Jim Goodwin flat on the floor after inspiring another heroic success typifies the fighting Tannadice spirit.
United sit fourth in the Premiership just a point behind third-placed Rangers after a sharp start to the top-flight return. Goodwin’s men head for Aberdeen on Saturday full of belief after their remarkable triumph over Hibs last weekend. Dalby struck his first United goal against the Capital club, but it looked like being in vain as his side trailed 2-1 going into injury-time.
However, Goodwin refused to buckle. He was adamant his team could still win it even at that late stage and urged them to keep fighting. When sub Meshack Ubochioma hit the winner after Luca Stephenson’s leveller to seal an astounding success, the gaffer slipped over and hit the deck in the wild celebrations.
Dalby said: “I don’t actually remember much about it, once the goal went in I remember looking to my left and seeing the gaffer lying on the floor. I didn’t have a clue what was going on, but we got the video up in the changing room afterwards, so that was good fun.
“Scoring in the 93rd and 99th minute is crazy. I haven’t been involved in anything like it, the ones I have had in the past were good, but nothing like it.
“I have had some good comebacks in my career before, but nothing will ever top this one. Going into injury time, I definitely didn’t think we deserved to be losing.
“Overall, I think we did enough to win because, even at 2-1 down, the gaffer was shouting on to keep believing in what we were doing and keep doing the same things. He was telling us if we did that we’d get a goal and even when the first one went in, he was shouting on: Keep going, we’ll get a winner. He was right.
“We have had a few comebacks recently and I feel we just believe that as long as the final whistle hasn’t gone we always think we have a chance of getting something.”
It was a battle against Hibs, but Dalby loved it and said: “The rough and tumble of it suits me, I like going into duels and trying to come out on top. It’s always tough going up against big centre halves, but I enjoy it. It was a physical game, but I enjoy that, definitely. There were times we got the ball down and played and there are times we wanted to do more of that. But if you get wins and three points playing the way we played then we’re happy.
Dalby’s goal against Hibs got him off the United mark following his loan switch from Wrexham in late August. The 24-year-old hopes to build on it and said: “Glenn Middleton had been saying to me he was going to get an assist for my first goal, so when he did that, he came over and told me: Here you go.
“It’s always good to get off the mark, scoring goals is not the be-all and end-all because you still have to do your work for the team, but it’s important and it’s good to be up and running on that front.
“I knew if you keep doing the right things, focus on yourself and being in the moment then it would come. The chances come and you won’t be snatching at them.
“I’m really happy with the way things are going, I’ve linked up well with the lads on and off the pitch. We have a really good spirit and character, players have been coming off the bench and making a big difference too. That shows how together everyone is.
“We’re all buzzing to get another win, especially the way things panned out.”