Luke McCowan was starting, then he wasn't, then he did. It was a bizarre set of circumstances with "human error" the reason given for major confusion over the Dundee starting line-up against Hearts.
Thankfully for Tony Docherty's men, there was absolutely no mistake from McCowan as he sent a sublime lob over Zander Clark to claim his side's first win of the season.
It was little surprise McCowan - the man who 'wasn't' playing according to an incorrect team sheet- would provide the match-winning strike for the hosts. In fact, the only surprise came when McCowan was quizzed over the pre-match perplexity.
“Yes, I am after it all," admitted McCowan when asked about the confusion over his inclusion. “Football is a funny old game and it is the first time I have heard anything like that. I am just glad to help the team and to get the three points.
“I am going to put the lottery on if that was the case and I was in and out.
“It is one of those things and laughable but it was good that I was in the team and able to help.
“I started the same, was in the same warm-up team and everything.
“As far as I am aware, I was always in. You always have to be ready and that is the message the manager sends us all.
“No matter who starts, we have to be ready to play. The first game of the season, we lost one of our centre halves four minutes in. So we have to be ready and no matter who it is then you have to be ready.”
On his stunning chipped finish to win the day, he joked: “I just remember getting the ball and [Scott] Tiffoney shouting at me and I told him to be quiet.
“Luckily enough I saw Zander off his line and I’ve put it in.
“If I hadn’t put it in I wouldn’t be standing here, it would be Tiffoney or somebody saying: ‘I’ve passed away in the changing room.’"
McCowan was deployed centrally for Dundee - similar to in pre-season - after spending time on the wing in previous seasons.
However, after his vital contribution, McCowan reckons it could be a "lucky" role moving forward at the club.
On his position tweak, he explained: “I like it fine. I have done it before.
“Before I came to Dundee I played no. 10. It keeps you involved especially in the Scottish game because you are up and down, winning headers and running channels.
“It gets me involved in the game and with plenty of touches so it doesn’t bother me.
“It was the position I played in pre-season as well. Maybe it is a lucky position.
“At my age, at 25, I have to show I am one of the guys who can step up and do it week in week out.
“Man of the matches come but you don’t focus on that it is the wins and the points.”
The victory lifts Dundee to sixth with a respectable four-point tally after three outings back in the top flight.
And McCowan is in no doubt that turning Dens Park into a fortress this season will be key if they are to retain their spot in the league.
“It was massive," he said of claiming a first win. “We know our games at home are going to be vital if we want to stay in the league and push as high up as we can.
“We showed against one of the better teams in the league we can handle ourselves.
“We just need to keep going week to week and be consistent. It is not about showing up some weeks.
"Our home games are massive. The gaffer has more experience in this league than I have been alive. He knows home games are huge and we need to use that to our advantage.”
