The Dark Blues cruised through to the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Forfar Athletic at the Kilmac Stadium. Alex Jakubiak scored twice in quick succession midway through the first half. Further goals by Niall McGinn and Tyler French put the Dee firmly in control by half time. Lyall Cameron made it five shortly after coming off the bench in the second half and Stefan McCluskey gave the Loons a consolation goal.
Gary Bowyer sent out an unchanged team after the midweek win at Queen’s Park, and his faith in the starting eleven was justified by a dominant performance in the first half.
The Dee had to be patient in the opening 20 minutes. Play was confined to the Loons’ half as Dundee tried to play their way through the deep-lying back four and sitting midfielders.
For all the Dark Blues’ controlled attacking they hadn’t given Forfar keeper Mark McCallum any serious problems until the opening goal came after 21 minutes.
It was an excellent individual goal, well worth waiting for. Alex JAKUBIAK picked up the ball wide on the right and turned his man. Running into the penalty area he dribbled past another defender before scoring with a fierce angled shot into the roof of the net.
That was the sort of goal that should give any striker a massive confidence boost. It was no surprise when he tucked away a more straightforward chance three minutes later.
Forfar gave the ball away as they tried to come out of defence and Niall McGinn played JAKUBIAK in to tuck a tidy finish past Mark McCallum from 16 yards.
The Dark Blues took their game up a level and went in for the kill, playing some delightful attacking football.
Dundee were using the wide areas with skill and imagination. Niall McGinn and Jordan Marshall combined impressively on the left, while Josh Mulligan and Cammy Kerr were a constant menace to Forfar on the right.
Paul McGowan was highly effective, floating around the penalty area and drifting into space on either side to allow the wide players to work their way around the beleaguered full backs.
Lovely close control by McGowan in the penalty area set up Cammy Kerr to blaze his shot over the bar and Jakubiak had a header from a corner cleared off the line.
The Loons held out till the 37th minute before they conceded again and the third goal was a truly beautiful creation that should have the purists purring with pleasure.
Dundee passed their way round the Forfar penalty area in a lengthy move looking for the perfect opening. Perfection duly arrived when Max Anderson sliced the defence open with an angled pass for Kerr to run in and pass across goal to give McGINN a tap in. Outstanding!
Jakubiak almost had his hat trick when Anderson headed down for him, but McCallum managed to block.
The fourth goal came on the stroke of half time. McGinn’s corner from the right was headed down by Ryan Sweeney for Tyler FRENCH to volley his first goal for the Dee into the roof of the net from close range.
Paul McMullan and Ben Williamson came on at half time for Jordan Marshall and Max Anderson. Cammy Kerr moved over to left back and Josh Mulligan dropped deeper to right back.
The Dark Blues continued to play pleasing and effective football, passing their way into promising positions and creating good chances.
Jakubiak went close twice within a couple of minutes after lovely passing moves sent first Kerr and then McGinn to the byline. The first shot was blocked almost on the line, and the next attempt flew just wide of the post.
Dundee continued to dominate with Forfar forced to defend deep and hang on desperately.
After 61 minutes the Dark Blues made three more changes, sending on Luke McCowan, Lyall Cameron and Zak Rudden for Niall McGinn, Paul McGowan and Alex Jakubiak.
Rudden almost notched an instant goal, but his header from McMullan’s cross brought a good reaction save by McCallum.
CAMERON did manage to get quickly onto the scoresheet, making space cleverly with excellent close control in the crowded penalty area before scoring with a fine finish across McCallum and inside the far post.
Dundee’s dominance may have led to a loss of concentration at the back, and Forfar took advantage. The central defence was out of position when Matthew Aitken found Stefan McCluskey in space to score with a shot from 18 yards that looped over Sweeney who was trying to cover on the line.
McCluskey might have scored an improbable second goal when his near post header from a corner clipped the outside of the upright.
The remainder of the game was spent with Dundee trying to find a sixth goal, but not quite managing it.
McCowan showed some clever touches and almost scored with an angled shot that required an excellent finger-tip save by McCallum to prevent number six. Mulligan headed over at a corner and the Dee had to settle for five.
Today’s three points gave the Dee a clean sweep of group H with maximum points. That guarantees Dundee a seeded spot in the last 16.
The scoreline obviously makes good reading, but what was even more pleasing was the quality of Dundee’s play. The Dark Blues were creative, incisive and deadly in that first half. The midfield control and attacking play was impressive.
Dundee were imaginative and highly effective in their passing, movement and ability to find space. The combination play was a delight to watch.
The serious business of the Championship campaign starts next week and the challenge for the players is to carry their fine form in the Premier Sports Cup forward into the league.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Sharp
Kerr, Sweeney (c), French, Marshall (McMullan at half time)
Byrne, Anderson (Williamson at half time)
Mulligan, McGowan (Cameron 61), McGinn (McCowan 61)
Jakubiak (Rudden 61)
Unused subs: Lawlor (gk), Robertson, Strachan, Fisher.
Goals: Jakubiak (21, 24), McGinn (37), French (45), Cameron (65).
Booked: Kerr (foul on Hanratty).
Forfar Athletic 4-4-1-1
McCallum
Nditi, Munro, Hussain (Abed at half time), Brindley,
Thomson, Hutton (Moore at half time) , Slater(c), McCluskey
Jack (Hanratty 74)
Armour (Aitken 65)
Unused subs: Sanderson (gk), Harkins, Irvine.
Goal: McCluskey (67).
Booked: none.
Attendance: 1,854 (104 Loons fans).
Referee: Graham Grainger. Assistants: Andy Milne, Stuart Broadfoot.
Report: James Christie.
