DUNDEE UNITED were thrown a Premeirship lifeline by former player Ryan McGowan in an epic ending to the top-flight relegation battle.
Jim Goodwin’s side looked doomed with Jack Baldwin’s 90th minute strike sending Ross County 3-2 up on St Johnstone, with dismal United slumping to a 3-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock.
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But ex-Arab Ryan McGowan, who spent two years at Tannadice in 2015-17 levelled even later for St Johnstone to leave the drop dependant on goal difference.
It remains in the Staggies favour though with United requiring an EIGHT-GOAL swing and results to fall in their favour to complete the ultimate survival job.
A dismal campaign promised so much but has seen the Tangerines flirt with relegation throughout.
They couldn’t even muster a win when it mattered most and fell 3-0 to Kilmarnock who are now safe from automatic relegation.
The visitors, led by ex-Arab Derek McInnes, have themselves suffered a woeful run on the road but picked up their second away win of the season at Tannadice to all but relegate Jim Goodwin’s side.
United started their third season back in the topflight with their third new manager. Jack Ross was in charge and saw off AZ Alkmaar in an epic European night at Tannadice before being smashed 7-0 in the Netherlands.
A 9-0 reverse at home to Celtic proved to be Ross’ undoing and he was replaced by assistant Liam Fox.
But form did not respond and Jim Goodwin – sacked by Aberdeen in February – was installed as the club’s third boss in a season in March.
Under Goodwin they picked up three wins and two draws and moved off the bottom but costly post-split defeats to St Johnstone, Livingston and Ross County sent them back to the bottom.
Defeat at home to Killie all but confirms their status.
It started badly as Kyle Vassell gave the Ayrshire side a lead on 14 minutes and he added a second just before the break.
St Johnstone looked to have given the Arabs a stay of execution with Stevie May’s first half goal which could have kept the Tangerines up, and their fight looked to go to the final day of the season when May’s second put County 2-0 down.
But Malky Mackay’s side rallied and pulled one back through a penalty from Yan Dhanda.
Jordan White knocked in the equaliser which still wouldn’t mathematically save the Staggies – but it would take a seven-goal swing to send them down.
That soon became eight goals as Innes Cameron struck Killie’s third leading to a walkout from the home support at Tannadice and scarves discarded in disgust.
When Baldwin scored in Dingwall injury-time, United were down for several minutes but an even later leveller from McGowan hands them an unlikely lifeline.
County can pull Killie into the play-off with a win and a six-goal swing when the sides meet at Rugby Park.
For Goodwin, he needs a Killie win – as goal-heavy as possible – and a win for United at old club Motherwell to stand any chance of avoiding a straight slide to the second tier.
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