Dundee were perfect in purple as they hammered Hamilton Accies 7-0 (seven – nil) at the Kilmac Stadium this afternoon. The Dark Blues were outstanding from start to finish. Alex Jakubiak and Ryan Sweeney got the proceedings off to a fine start with early goals. Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan made it four late in the first half. The Dee toyed with Accies in the second half before Cameron completed his hat trick with two quick goals and Kwame Thomas came off the bench to apply the coup de grace with goal number seven.
It was no surprise that the Dark Blues were unchanged following the fine win against Ayr 11 days ago. Only the most optimistic Dee would have predicted the players would top that performance in such style.
Dundee started fast and didn’t give Accies a breather till the game was well beyond them. It was no surprise when the Dark Blues took the lead after seven minutes.
Jordan Marshall combined sweetly with Luke Hannant before whipping an inviting low cross through the goalmouth. It took a slight deflection en route to the far post where Alex JAKUBIAK gleefully turned in the opening goal.
The Dee continued to rampage through Hamilton’s defence and Luke McCowan came close to a second. He swapped passes with Zach Robinson before shooting across goal, narrowly missing the far post.
Ryan Sweeney scored the second after 16 minutes, powering a near post header home from Luke Hannant’s corner.
Robinson volleyed Marshall’s cross over the bar from close range. Jakubiak netted from Lee Ashcroft’s header across goal but was flagged offside. Ashroft took a head knock in that incident and needed to be patched up before returning to action with a head bandage.
Dundee were disrupted when they lost Zach Robinson to a nasty head knock. This was the low point of a wonderful afternoon. Robinson had been excellent partnering Jakubiak but Dundee hardly missed him when Paul McMullan came on to replace him.
The game went through a very brief flat spell as the Dee adjusted to the forced change. They were soon back on the attack, carving their way through the shell-shocked Accies defence.
McCowan drilled a low shot just wide. Hannant failed to connect cleanly with his shot following McCowan’s cross as Dundee kept up the relentless pressure.
The Dark Blues got their reward for relentless attacking with two goals late in the half.
McCowan sent Josh Mulligan away down the right. Mulligan fired a fierce low cross into the goalmouth and Lyall CAMERON did what he does so well – timing his arrival perfectly to shoot home.
Deep into first half injury time Marshall’s pass from the left on the half way line found Luke McCOWAN sneaking in behind the Accies centre backs. He calmly poked his shot through the keeper’s legs for number four.
Accies made two substitutions when they were 2-0 down and made two more at half time. It didn’t make any difference.
Hamilton did have a decent chance at the start of the second half. Zanatta’s pass found Connor Smith clear, but he failed to control the ball and let it run out of play. Smith also had a good attempt from a 25 yard free kick that wasn’t far wide. That was all that Accies managed to create all afternoon.
After that fleeting interlude the Dee went on to toy with the struggling Accies for the rest of the game.
McCowan volleyed over from a corner. Jakubiak missed an easy chance firing over from a couple of yards out after McMullan set him up with a low cross. Nevertheless, Jakubiak was outstanding throughout and skillful hold-up play allowed him to send McMullan clear but Fulton saved for a corner.
More terrific play by Jakubiak gave McCowan a chance but he shot over. Jordan McGhee headed over from Cameron’s cross following a clever short corner move.
Finally, after 72 minutes, the Dee scored the fifth goal that made the scoreline more realistic. CAMERON took a pass from McCowan to score with a low drive from 10 yards.
Four minutes later Cameron had his hat-trick. He made a lovely skillful run through the midfield and passed out to Hannant on the left. The winger chipped over a fine cross for CAMERON to send a header looping over the keeper for number six.
Jordan McGhee almost followed up with the seventh, heading wide from Marshall’s cross.
The Dark Blues made four simultaneous substitutions, sending on Sam Fisher, Shaun Byrne, Finlay Robertson and Kwame Thomas. This allowed Josh Mulligan, Alex Jakubiak, Luke Hannant and Lyall Cameron to receive richly deserved standing ovations as they went off.
The subbies were in no mood to give Accies an easy run in to the final whistle. Kwame THOMAS claimed his first goal for the Dee, heading McMullan’s perfect cross home for the seventh goal.
Enjoyable as all the Dee attacking was the attitude of the defence and midfield was excellent and deserves a mention. They had no intention of granting Accies a consolation goal. A clean sheet is alway welcome, even if the Dee scored seven.
There was so much to enjoy in today’s performance on top of the goals. The Dee’s fast passing, movement and clever combination play left Hamilton helpless and thrilled the fans. Dundee did not batter Hamilton into submission, They played the beautiful game the right way, and Accies couldn’t cope.
The applause at the final whistle was loud and prolonged. The Dees in the stands were delighted by this excellent performance and crushing victory. Lyall Cameron returned to the pitch to claim the match ball and pose for photos he will always treasure.
As the fans left the ground there were thousands of bright, beaming faces, and youngsters excitedly crying “seven! seven!”. It doesn’t happen often that the fans can enjoy a victory like this. They enjoyed it hugely today.
The Dark Blues were ruthless in exploiting Hamilton’s weaknesses. The Dee were by far the better team all over the pitch. It was a joy to watch! Seven!
Dundee FC 4-4-2
Legzdins
Mulligan (Fisher 79), Ashcroft, Sweeney (c), Marshall
McCowan, McGhee, Cameron (Byrne 79), Hannant (Robertson 79)
Jakubiak (Thomas 79), Robinson (McMullan 31)
Unused subs: Lawlor (gk), Sharp (gk), Clampin, Maguire.
Goals: Jakubiak (7), Sweeney (16), Cameron (45, 72, 76), McCowan (45+4), Thomas (84).
Booked: none.
Hamilton Academical 5-3-1-1
Fulton
Sparrow, Owens, McGowan, Easton, Tumilty
Mimnaugh (Lawson 38), Connor Smith, De Bolle (Winter at half time)
Lewis Smith (Stephenson 38)
Tiéhi (Zanatta at half time)
Unused subs: Jamie Smith (gk), McGinn, Newbury.
Booked: Owens (foul on Cameron).
Referee: Kevin Clancy. Assistants: David Doig, Barry Reid.
Attendance: 5,019.
Report: James Christie.
