Dee go out with bang

PLAYERRATINGS Dark Blues smash seven past Forfar in Betfred Cup

@LiamJKennedy

THE media knew it, the fans did too. Even the players and management were accepting that this match would be the end of Dundee’s League Cup campaign for yet another season.

But this game was about much more than three points for the Dark Blues.

The match was about restoring a bit of pride after the embarrassment of losing to Peterhead.

It was also about repairing the wounds that had opened up in the week following the unexpected loss of star striker Kane Hemmings to English League One Oxford United.

And you know what? With a sevengoal show, going one better than their last Dens outing where Dumbarton were hit for six, Dundee did just that.

Even though their cup fate was out of their own hands, with Paul Hartley’s men needing a remarkable turn of results to be in with a chance of being a best second-placed team, the Dark Blues put i n a performance to remember.

They got those on the terraces, burned by the antics of midweek, excited again.

Yes, it was only Forfar, but it proved a positive end to what has, in the main, been a depressingly negative week.

And they also proved there’s life without Hemmings.

The hosts were soon on the front foot with Teijsse leading the line well and Danny Williams, McGowan and Duffy lively.

It was in fact outspoken McGowan, who got a lot of praise for his harsh assessment of Dundee’s failing in the week, that grabbed the opener.

The midfield man latched on to a through-ball and expertly lifted over the top of Grant Adam.

If the first goal was decent, Duffy beat that with the second.

Thirty yards from goal he stroked home, opening his account for the Dark Blues. Even though it’s early days that effort will take some beating this season.

The third came soon after and it was from a very familiar source.

Stewart saw a header saved by Adam then followed up the rebound to tuck in from a tight angle.

Dundee grabbed their fourth 10 minutes into the second period when Etxabeguren bundled home from two yards after a knockdown in the Forfar area.

And it was five when Stewart, linked with a move to Leeds United and Birmingham City this week, curled into the top corner from the edge of the area with his wand of a left peg.

The sixth came with around 20 minutes to play — a cross from the right by Cammy Kerr was nodded in by Loy.

And Teijsse wrapped things up with time ticking away, heading home, to cap a fine Dundee display.

Put into perspective this was a run of the mill win over lower league cannon fodder. But given the sale of Hemmings, the shame of Balmoor as well as Greg Stewart being linked with a move away almost daily this finally gave Dundee something to shout about.

The Dark Blues could quite easily have retreated into their shell. The fact they didn’t speaks volumes for the character within the camp.

But credit must go to the management team for getting the players bang up for a match which meant very little in the grand scheme of things. Much tougher tests lie in wait, but Dundee proved they’re more than equipped to ride out the storm.