Dundee boss Tony Docherty revealed he had been teasing match-winner Luke McCowan about his lack of goals prior to the 1-0 cinch Premiership win over Livingston at Dens Park.
The 25-year-old struck a superb second-half free-kick to clinch all three points and move the Dark Blues up to sixth in the table.
It was McCowan’s second goal of the season – with Docherty pointing out before the game that he had netted fewer than centre-half skipper Joe Shaughnessy.
Docherty said: “We are a newly-promoted team and nobody can expect a home game against Livingston to be easy.
“It’s a tough, tough game and you have to do so many things right.
“I think what defined the match was a moment of quality from Luke McCowan.
“I’m delighted for him. I’m always banging on to him to get more goals and assists – I was teasing him the other day saying Joe Shaughnessy has more goals than him. Now he’s level with Joe!
“I’m really pleased for the team.
“This squad’s mentality is fantastic and has been from day one.
“The clean sheets we are keeping give you such a platform to win games.”
The defeat at Dens was the second time Livingston had lost to Dundee in the space of eight days.
However, this time round, boss David Martindale insisted he could not be angry with his players.
He said: “A moment of brilliance from Luke McCowan changed the dynamic of the game.
“We had a fantastic chance with Joel Nouble and he’s got to do better with it.
“It’s a part of his game where he’s got to become more ruthless. He’s got to hit the target.
“I thought we shaded the first half but should have taken more care in the final third. We could have done better.
“In the second half, I thought we were the better team but Dundee defended their box well.
“I feel for the players. I was angry when we lost to Dundee last week but I can’t have any anger with the players today.”
Livi have now lost four games in a row and remain ninth with Martindale admitting his side are in a dogfight to stay up.
He said: “I think we’ll be in a relegation battle up to matchday 33 – or even matchday 38.
“I’ve been at Livingston for ten years and I think I’ve been in a relegation battle for nine.
“Have we over-achieved? I think we have.
“Do I think we’ve got more than enough to get out of this? Of course we have.”
Late Palma strike sinks St Mirren as Celtic celebrate SPL triumph on final day
Luis Palma struck a late winner as champions Celtic twice came from behind to see off St Mirren 3-2 on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season.
It was a day of celebrations at Celtic Park for Brendan Rodgers' side, who wrapped up their third successive domestic title in midweek.
However, St Mirren threatened to spoil the party when Mark O'Hara fired them in front after just seven minutes.
Top scorer Matt O'Riley equalised for the hosts in the 21st minute, but they fell behind again just five minutes later when O'Hara doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Stephen Welsh fouled Toyosi Olusanya.
Kyogo Furuhashi levelled for Celtic before half-time, and the Hoops completed the turnaround with Palma scored the winner with four minutes remaining.
Rodgers' side finished eight points clear of second-place Rangers, who were held to a 3-3 draw by Hearts.
Despite falling behind to Lawrence Shankland's strike, goals from Ross McCausland, Todd Cantwell and Fabio Silva seemingly had the visitors on course for a comfortable win at Tynecastle.
However, there was to be a late twist with Dexter Lembikisa pulling a goal back in the 82nd minute, before Kyosuke Tagawa struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the hosts.
There was also nothing to separate Dundee and Kilmarnock, who drew 1-1 in the other match on the final day.
Luke McCowan cancelled out Gary Mackay-Steven's earlier effort, though the Dundee captain squandered a glorious opportunity to complete the turnaround when he missed a penalty two minutes from time.
Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic scores last-gasp penalty
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a penalty in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time as Al-Hilal denied Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr victory in a 1-1 draw.
Mitrovic netted his 27th Saudi Pro League goal of the campaign after Sadio Mane was harshly judged to have fouled Saud Abdulhamid in the area.
Mane stuck out an arm to shield the ball, catching his opponent in the throat, though the contact appeared to have been outside of the box.
Mitrovic made no mistake to keep Al-Hilal's unbeaten campaign going.
The Serbian's spot-kick cancelled out Otavio's first-minute opener, with Ronaldo having set up his compatriot.
Champions Al-Hilal remain 12 points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit of the Pro League standings.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo the provider
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in Saudi Arabia this season, though he had to settle for an assist on Friday.
That came from the only chance he created, with the 39-year-old limited to 25 touches, though he did have four shots.
Al-Ittihad pegged back as winless run rolls on
Mohamed Sherif scored late on as Al-Ittihad's winless run in the Saudi Pro League stretched to four games after a 1-1 draw with Al-Khaleej.
Al-Ittihad have endured a miserable title defence, and with just two games remaining, the highest the big-spending, PIF-backed club can finish is fourth.
Muhannad Al Shanqiti put them ahead on the stroke of half-time, yet despite having a further eight shots and accumulating 1.07 xG in the second half, Al-Ittihad could not add another.
Their profligacy proved costly in the 81st minute, with Egypt international Sherif snatching an equaliser for 11th-placed Al-Khaleej.
Al-Tai moved out of the relegation zone with a surprise 3-1 win over seventh-placed Al-Fateh, with Bernard Mensah scoring twice.
Al-Raed, meanwhile, claimed a 1-0 win at Al-Wehda.
Data Debrief: Kante the creator?
On the day he received a surprising France recall, N'Golo Kante created three chances for Al-Ittihad, leading the team.
On the flip side, Kante only attempted one tackle, with the midfielder showing a different side to his game, not that it proved fruitful for his team.
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