Adam& Eveit: Charlie’sdee canberealtitlecontenders
DUNDEE 3
Mcghee (14), Mullen (36), Afolabi (84, pen)
Dundee savoured revenge for their opening-day debacle at Tynecastle – and breathed new life into their Championship title hopes.
James Mcpake’s men made amends for their 6-2 drubbing by Hearts back in October thanks to first-half headers from Jordan Mcghee and Danny Mullen in this televised Tayside clash before substitute Jonathan Afolabi’s late clinching penalty.
The rejuvenated Dark Blues now sit joint second-top alongside Dunfermline and just five points behind Robbie Neilson’s league leaders who’d briefly threatened a comeback through substitute Andy Irving’s 56th minute free-kick.
Mcpake’s side are six games undefeated having got 2021 off to a flier and can take massive confidence from this well-deserved victory.
Dundee went into this fixture in fine form with former Hearts hitman Osman Sow bagging six goals in three games.
They made one change from the side which defeated Alloa 3-1 earlier in the week as Mullen came in for Declan Mcdaid.
There was controversy inside the first minute when Shaun Byrne clattered into Hearts star Steven Naismith and received a yellow-card from referee Don Robertson.
Jambos boss Neilson was far from happy with the challenge as he vented his anger from the touchline and it set the tone for a feisty encounter.
Charlie Adam looked in the mood for the hosts and his blistering seventh minute free-kick brought out a fine save from Craig Gordon who parried wide for a corner.
Then, a minute later, Mullen was sent clean through with only Gordon to beat but the former Celtic and Scotland keeper foiled him by parrying his 12-yard shot over the bar.
However, they didn’t have to wait too much longer before taking the lead in 14 minutes.
Adam dug out a stunning cross which eluded the entire visiting defence and Mcghee ghosted in at the far post to bullet a header back across Gordon and into the far corner of the net.
It was no more than the Taysiders deserved for their enterprising start with strike pairing Sow and Mullen refusing to give the Hearts’ defence a minute’s peace.
The visitors were struggling to find their feet although Andy Halliday did flash a shot narrowly past Jack Hamilton’s goal midway through the first-half in a rare foray forward.
At the other end, Christie Elliott found space down the right to cross for Sow whose shot fizzed just inches wide.
Dundee, though, increased their lead in 26 minutes.
It was vintage stuff for Adam as he skipped past two Hearts defenders before clipping an inch-perfect cross for Mullen to head home from six-yards despite Gordon’s best efforts to keep it out.
Hearts threw on Irving for Peter Haring at the start of the second-half in a bid to spark a comeback and soon after they introduced Euan Henderson at the expense of Craig Wighton.
And they threw themselves a lifeline thanks to Irving’s 56th minute free-kick after Dundee defender Liam Fontaine’s foul.
Irving swerved a left-footed effort which nestled in Hamilton’s far corner as the visitors sensed all might not be lost.
Dundee had a chance to restore their two-goal advantage midway through the second-half when Sow released striker partner Mullen.
But Jamie Brandon got back to clear the danger while Naismith was thwarted a few minutes later by Hamilton diving at his feet.
Dundee, though, clinched the points with only six minutes left.
Christophe Berra fouled Ashcroft and the on-loan Celtic youngster stepped up to calmly bury the spot-kick high past Gordon to cap a memorable night.
DUNDEE:
(4-3-1-2) Hamilton 7, Elliott 6, Ashcroft 7, Fontaine 6, Marshall 7, Mcghee 7, Byrne 7, Adam 9 ( Robertson 77, 1) Mcgowan 7, Mullen 7 (Afolabi 69, 2) Sow 7 (Kerr 82, 1) Unused – Ferrie, Forster, Mcdaid, Anderson
(4-4-2) Gordon 6, Brandon 6, Berra 6, Halkett 6, Kingsley 7, Lee 6, Haring 5 (Irving 46, 4) Walker 6, Halliday 6, Naismith 6, Wighton 5 (Henderson 54, 3) Unused – Stewart, Roberts, Frear, Moore, Popescu