Dundee went down to a 3-1 defeat at Ayr in the televised game at Ayr tonight. The Dark Blues took an early lead through Zak Rudden but Ayr equalised quickly through Kipo Akinyemi. The game was settled by goals from Jordan Houston and Akinyemi again midway through the second half. Dundee started each half brightly with Ayr’s first two goals coming against the run of play. Each time the game swung in Ayr’s favour and the home side were able to see the game out comfortably after taking the lead. A miserable night for the Dee ended with Ryan Sweeney picking up a second yellow card and being sent off in injury time.
Unusually, both clubs sent out unchanged line-ups. The only change to the Dee squad was Fin Robertson taking Shaun Byrne’s place on the bench.
Dundee started quickly and were rewarded with an early goal. Joe Grayson intercepted a pass in midfield, allowing Paul McGowan space to switch play out to the left. Luke McCowan sent a deep cross beyond the far post. Paul McMullan stretched to send the ball back across goal allowing Zak RUDDEN to score from close range.
The Dee were faster and sharper than Ayr, moving quickly through the midfield and attacking dangerously. McMullan drove through from midfield and Rudden shot over the bar from Muligan’s lay off.
As Ayr struggled to get into the game Dipo Akinyemi managed to get a shot on target from 20 yards but Harry Sharp saved easily.
Against the run of play Ayr equalised from a poorly defended corner. Frankie Musonda headed down for AKINYEMI to poke the ball home from almost on the goal line.
The goal gave Ayr a lift and they matched the Dark Blues for the remainder of the half. The Honest Men lived up to their impressive statistic for shots on goal, but they were invariably optimistic and off target. Andy Murdoch had the only half decent chance when he shanked his effort well wide from 18 yards.
The Dee lost Luke McCowan just after the half hour when the former Ayr winger limped off after taking a painful knock. Jordan McGhee came on to play in midfield with Josh Mulligan moving to the right wing and Paul McMullan switching to the left.
Dundee had as many attacks as Ayr but could not create any worthwhile openings. After equalising Ayr were successfully getting in the Dark Blues’ faces and preventing them building attacks easily.
Zach Robinson started the second half, replacing Paul McGowan as Dundee tried to create more in attack.
The first 15 minutes after the restart gave us a hectic end to end match. But it was the Dark Blues who were by far the more dangerous and constantly threatened to take the lead.
Rudden couldn’t force the ball home in a scramble at a corner and keeper Albinson smothered the ball. McMullan took a Rudden pass and his angled shot was parried by Albinson with the rebound flying over the head of Robinson was was following up.
McMullan sent Robinson in on goal, but as the substitute tried to round Albinson the keeper managed to get a touch to knock the ball away.
Albinson surpassed that save to keep out Rudden’s fierce shot from Mulligan’s pass. Albinson saved well again to keep out McGhee’s header as the Dee piled on the pressure.
A goal duly arrived, but it was at the other end. After 61 minutes Jordan HOUSTON was allowed to run in from the right and score with a low shot into the corner from 18 yards.
That goal might have been against the run of play, but it completely transformed the game. There was no response, no hint of a fightback from a deflated Dee team, and Ayr went on to win comfortably.
Six minutes later Ayr killed the game off with a third goal. AKINYEMI pulled down Murdoch’s cross from the right, turned and hammered a rising shot past Sharp from 12 yards.
Sharp had to push away a Dempsey shot for a corner as Ayr looked as if they would go on to score more goals. However, the Honest Men settled for closing the game down. They did this with great effect and saw the game out all too easily.
Lyall Cameron and Ben Williamson replaced Paul McMullan and Joe Grayson but had little opportunity to make an impact. Lee Ashcroft came on for Zak Rudden to play the last 10 minutes in attack. Dundee had a couple of shots from distance, but neither troubled Albinson in the home goal.
In injury time Ryan Sweeney unwisely hurled the ball down after a throw was awarded to Ayr. He had been booked in the first half and surprisingly the referee thought that mild piece of dissent was worth a second yellow followed by a red card.
This was a painful night for the travelling support, not just because of the defeat but also for the way that the Dark Blues fell out of a game they looked like winning in the opening quarter of an hour of each half. Cheaply conceded goals when the Dee were on top proved fatal, and the lack of response each time was particularly disappointing.
Ayr played very well in the last half hour, but Dundee made it far too easy for them to win and take their place at the top of the Championship.
Ayr United 4-4-2
Albinson
Houston, Musonda, Kirk, Reading
O’Connor (Mitchell-Lawson 77), Dempsey, Murdoch (c) (McGinty 88), Ashford
Akinyemi (Hewitt 80), McKenzie
Unused subs: McConnell (gk), Smith, Ecrepont, McAllister, Moffat, Bangala.
Goals: Akinyemi (17, 67), Houston (61).
Booked: Murdoch (foul on Cameron).
Dundee FC 4-3-3
Sharp
Kerr, Sweeney (c), French, Marshall
Mulligan, Grayson (Williamson 69), McGowan (Robinson at half time)
McMullan (Cameron 69), Rudden (Ashcroft 80), McCowan (McGhee 32)
Unused subs: Legzdins (gk), McGinn, Robertson, Anderson.
Goal: Rudden (3).
Booked: Sweeney twice (foul on McKenzie and dissent).
Sent off: Sweeney (two yellows).
Attendance: 2,274.
Referee: Greg Aitken. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Calum Doyle. Fourth Official: Duncan Williams.
Report: James Christie.
