Dundee dealt out an utterly dominant 6-0 hammering to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their final Premier Sports group D game today. Simon Murray started the rout with a goal in the first minute and claimed a first half hat trick. Seb Palmer-Houlden also scored twice before half time as the teams turned around with the Dark Blues leading 5-0. The Dee’s dominance continued throughout the second half and Antonio Portales completed the scoring. The win takes the Dee into the last 16 of the cup with the best record of any of the 40 teams in the eight groups; four wins, 18 goals, and a goal difference of 16. That ensures Dundee will be seeded for the last 16 draw.
There were four changes to Dundee’s starting eleven from the side that secured qualification from the group with a win over Annan on Tuesday. Trevor Carson came in for Jon McCracken in goal, Luke Graham came into the back three for his first competitive start, Josh Mulligan into midfield, and Seb Palmer-Houlden started in attack. Ryan Stley, Lyall Cameron and Curtis Main moved onto the bench.
The Dark Blues repeated the blistering start that blew Bonnyrigg away two weeks ago. The Dee kicked off and won a throw on the right near the corner flag. Ethan Ingram hurled over a long throw, Seb Palmer-Houlden nodded on and Simon Murray stretched to get a touch to send his shot looping in slow motion over the keeper and under the bar. 46 seconds had passed and the only Caley Thistle to have touched the ball was the defender off whom the ball broke to give Dundee the throw.
That set the tone for a first half that was jaw-droppingly one-sided. Inverness couldn’t handle Dundee’s pace, skill, movement or strength. The Dark Blues poured round and through Caley Thistle time and again.
Inverness hung on in the face of the onslaught for 17 minutes. Murray’s fierce 18 yarder was turned over by keeper Jack Newman and Palmer-Houlden headed wide from a fine cross by Ingram.
After 18 minutes the inevitable second goal arrived. Josh Mulligan won the ball in midfield, drove forward and timed his pass perfectly to send MURRAY in on goal. The striker clipped his shot over the keeper despite Danny Devine’s attempt to keep it out.
Four minutes later it was three. Luis Longstaff sent a dodgy backpass towards Newman. Seb PALMER-HOULDEN was lurking and nipped in to drag the ball past the helpless keeper and score with a very tidy finish from a tight angle.
Mulligan was ripping Caley Thistle apart in midfield with his strength and skill. Twice he powered through the middle and shot narrowly wide.
As the half hour approached Dundee added a fourth goal following a classy assist by Fin Robertson whose lovely pass split the defence to send MURRAY clear to poke his shot past Newman and complete his hat-trick.
Dundee maintained their total dominance and scored goal number five after 39 minutes. Ingram sent a pass across the face of the penalty area and PALMER-HOULDEN rifled in a low shot from 18 yards.
Inverness had barely offered even token resistance in the first half and a half time motivational team talk from Duncan Ferguson stiffened their resolve for the second half. They also replaced a striker with a midfielder, and adopted more prudent tactics. Against the marauding high pressing from the Dee strikers and midfielders Caley Thistle’s ambitious attempts to play out from the back had been as sensible as swimming with sharks.
Dundee also made a change at half time, sending on Lyall Cameron as a straight replacement for Luke McCowan.
The Dark Blues continued to push Caley Thistle back and kept hunting for more goals, but Inverness were able to hold out for over half an hour, and even launch a couple of attacks without inconveniencing Trevor Carson. Time and again Dundee had shots blocked and deflected for corners as Inverness fought hard to keep the score down.
Curtis Main and Scott Tiffoney replaced Murray and Palmer-Houlden just before the hour. It made no difference to Dundee’s dominance. Ryan Astley also came on for Mo Sylla with Jordan McGhee stepping forward into the midfield enforcer roled in which Sylla excelled today.
Finally, after 79 minutes, the sixth goal arrived to give a more accurate reflection of Dundee’s superiority. Lyall Cameron flighted in a precise cross from a free kick on the right and Antonio PORTALES rose to power a header past Newman.
Further goals always seemed possible but Caley Thistle held on. At the end the Dark Blue support showed their appreciation for a hugely enjoyable six goal romp in the sun.
Since the new group format for the league cup was introduced in 2016 Dundee have never qualified for the last 16 in such an emphatic manner. Today the Dark Blues were ruthless in the final third, constantly probing for opportunities, pressing Inverness into mistakes, and playing aggressive, fast passing in midfield to leave Caley Thistle chasing shadows. Josh Mulligan was given his first competitive start of the season and the young midfielder seized the opportunity enthusiastically. He fully deserved the man of the match award after an outstanding performance. As for Simon Murray – he clearly loves playing in Dark Blue!
As for the Dee defence, they gave Inverness nothing. It was hardly a day to judge them but they did everything they had to do, and provided able assistance to the midfield to help start attacks.
The hard grind of the league starts next week. The standard will be much higher, but Dundee couldn’t have prepared for it in more pleasing and impressive style.
Dundee FC 3-1-4-2
Carson
Portales, McGhee, Graham
Sylla (Astley 75)
Ingram, Mulligan, McCowan (c) (Cameron 58), Fin Robertson
Palmer-Houlden (Tiffoney 58), Murray (Main 58)
Unused substitutes: McCracken (gk), Sharp (gk), Astley, Tiffoney, Main, Cameron, Richardson, Lochhead.
Goals: Murray (1, 18, 29), Palmer-Houlden (23, 39), Portales (79).
Booked: none.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-5-2
Newman
Davidson, Devine, Savage, Strachan
Bray, Longstaff (Keogh 80), Macleod (Thomson 76), Gilmour (Calum Mackay 80) Strachan
Brooks (Corner at half time), Billy McKay (c) (Ferguson 76)
Unused substitutes: Rebilas (gk), Nixon.
Booked: Savage (foul on Tiffoney).
Referee: John Beaton. Assistants: David Dunne, Craig Macrae.
Attendance: 1,057.
Report: James Christie.
