Second spot still alive, but Dee have hard work ahead
Benedictus (88)
Cummings (pen, 13), Fontaine (34) RAITH ROVERS 1
Dundee boss James Mcpake watched his promotion hopefuls secure their play-off place – and insisted they’re all intent on sealing a return to the Premiership.
The Dark Blues moved to within a point of second-top Rovers with just one game remaining which sees them travel to Queen of the South on Friday night.
Jason Cummings’ 13th minute penalty sent them on their way before defender Liam Fontaine’s glancing 34th minute header put them in the driving seat against John Mcglynn’s men who gave themselves some hope thanks to Kyle Benedictus’ 88th minute header, before having Dylan Tait sent-off for a wild injury-time lunge on Paul Mcgowan.
Mcpake said: “It’s a massive win. Now we need to go to Queen of the South and make sure we win that game too.
“We knew if we didn’t win here, we couldn’t get to second place.
“Of course, we celebrated at the end but it’s far from job done. There’s a lot of hard work to be done.
“I would love to get this club back to the Premiership. We’re all up for it – come play-off final day we want to be in it.”
Dundee made three changes from the side which drew 1-1 in Inverness in midweek. Charlie Adam, Paul Mcgowan and Cummings all came back in a bid to end their run of three straight draws.
Raith arrived on Tayside having had the luxury of no midweek fixture but
it was still the hosts who made the brighter start.
And the determined Dark Blues soon forged themselves ahead.
Cummings’ shot from inside the box struck the hand of former Dundee defender Kyle Benedictus, leaving referee Willie Collum with no option but to point to the spot.
Cummings oozed confidence as he stepped up to send Jamie Macdonald the wrong way.
They sensed promotion rivals Raith were there for the taking and went about doubling their advantage in the run-up to half-time.
Mcgowan’s whipped corner picked out Fontaine and his glancing header crossed the line despite the best efforts of the visitors to clear.
Raith looked shellshocked although Tait did try his luck from distance five minutes prior to the interval. But the midfielder’s long-range effort fizzed just past Adam Legzdins’ far post.
In the second half it was Dundee who looked the more likely side to increase their lead as Cummings kept the Raith defence on their toes.
However, Regan Hendry did briefly threaten in 68 minutes when his crisp shot brought out the first save of the afternoon from Legzdins.
Benedictus bundled a header over the line from Hendry’s cross with only two minutes left but it was too little too late for the Fifers who were reduced to 10 men when Tait was sent packing at the death for a straight redcard lunge on Mcgowan.
Raith manager Mcglynn, who takes his troops to Tynecastle on Friday night, said: “There wasn’t much in the game at all and we got the goal too late to put any pressure on them.
“But it’s still in our hands and that’s all we can ask for.”