A first half wonder goal from Paul McMullan and a second half goal from half time substitute Zach Robinson set Dundee on their way to victory this afternoon against Ayr United who started the day joint top of the cinch Championship.
The Somerset side pulled one back through Josh Mullin but it was Dundee who looked more likely to find the net again after that and in the end it was a well deserved victory for Gary Bowyer’s men.
There was one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Arbroath last weekend. Lee Ashcroft missed out through illness and it was a straight swap with Ryan Sweeney returning to the starting line up wearing the captains armband.
Dundee started their first home match in just under a month on the front foot and it looked like they had taken the lead when Luke McCowan’s shot was flicked on by Zak Rudden. It looped over Charlie Albinson in the Ayr goal but went inches wide of the post.
Cillian Sheridan had a couple of headers while Jordan Marshall fired over the bar as Dundee continued in the ascendancy. Logan Chalmers had the visitors first real effort but it was deflected over the bar.
With 36 minutes on the clock, McMullan picked the ball up just inside the Ayr half, he had barely carried it forward when he unleashed an unstoppable effort from 35 yards that flew into the top corner. A goal to rival Zach Robinson’s strike against Queen’s Park earlier this season for Goal of the Season.
The winger almost doubled his tally minutes later when a cross was kept in by Rudden and McMullan drills and effort in but it ended up into the side netting.
Half Time saw two changes with Sheridan and Rudden replaced by Josh Mulligan and Zach Robinson.
That change paid off instantly as two minutes after the break Dundee had doubled their lead.
Mulligan was involved , driving forward before laying to McCowan wide left, he picked out Jordan McGhee and when his effort was saved Robinson was on hand to turn home with one of his first touches.
At that stage it looked like Dundee would go on and add more as straight away Albinson had to be sharp to deny McGhee making it 3-0.
Ayr had a brief period of pressure that saw Cammy Kerr cleared under pressure from Akinyemi and Dempsey shooting over the bar from distance.
On the hour mark they found a way back into the match. Good work from Akinyemi down the left before a cut back for Mullin to turn home at the back post.
Dundee stepped it up from then though and could have added more, firstly a great breakaway ended with McMullan lifting to the back post but Mulligan sliding in but he could only turn just wide of far post.
Two minutes later the same combination brought another effort but Mulligan got his shot all wrong and it went well wide.
The pressure continued and Robinson found himself in space in the box twice but was denied firstly by Albinson then by a defenders block.
With two minutes to go Albinson had time for one final save, denying Robinson again, this time a head from the substitute.
The final chance actually fell to the visitors and it was an overhit corner that found O’Connor coming round the back, he connected but it flew over the bar.
It was a big chance for Ayr to snatch a point but on the run of the play it would have been unfair on Dundee.
Many times this season Dundee’s play has warranted more goals so Gary Bowyer will be pleased that his side managed to find the net twice and take all three points.
