Sweeney smasher seals the honours for inspired Dundee
DUNDEE 3
McCowan (19), Mullen (26), Sweeney (49) MOTHERWELL 0
Jubilant James McPake hailed his players for sweeping aside Motherwell – then dedicated their five-star victory to Dundee legend Doug Cowie.
McPake’s men turned in a superb showing that Cowie would have been proud of as the free-flowing Taysiders paid their respects to the club’s record appearance-holder, who passed away aged 95.
A minute’s silence prior to kick-off was observed inside Dens Park for Cowie.
And Dundee didn’t let down the legend with first-half goals within the space of seven minutes from Luke McCowan and Danny Mullen and centre-back Ryan Sweeney’s clincher just minutes after the re-start.
Andm an agerMcPake salute d his troops. He said: “I think it was a fitting tribute to the club’s record appearance holder.
“You could feel the atmosphere in the stands before the game as well. We used that in our team talk for Doug.
“He was a real legend at this football club. So first and foremost that’s at the top of our minds. That’s what the win was for.
“I felt the players done the football club proud today.”
Dundee’s last game had been three weeks ago when they went down 4-2 to Celtic at Dens, but they showed no signs of rustiness.
They began the day just a point above bottom-dogs Ross County.
Mullen started in the lone-striker role which meant both on-loan Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths and former Hibs ace Jason Cummings were on the bench.
Dundee set a high tempo from kick-off and had the home fans off their seats in 15 minutes.
McCowan sprinted down the left in acres of space which allowed him to line up a cross for the on-rushing Paul McMullan.
McMullan had made great strides into the final third but the cross went inches behind him so the chance went abegging.
Then, a few minutes later, the hosts created the first real scoring opportunity. McMullan sent a through-pass into the path of Mullen who timed his run to perfection before unleashing a stinging shot that Liam Kelly did well to parry to safety.
But the hosts weren’t to be denied as they surged ahead in 19 minutes.
Jordan Marshall’s cut-back was perfect for McCowan who did the rest with a rasping left-foot shot from the centre of the box that left Kelly helpless.
The Taysiders quickly set about trying to add to their tally.
And Mullen got a reward for his early pressing with a fine 26th-minute strike.
McCowan did the donkey work with a cute pass through and Mullen wasted no time in drilling a low finish into the bottom corner.
Motherwell boss Graham Alexander went for broke after the break with Kevin van Veen and Jordan Roberts thrown on at the expense of Liam Grimshaw and Connor Shields.
They almost threw themselves a lifeline when van Veen’s thunderous shot came crashing back off the post.
But Dundee killed the contest through Sweeney. Defensive partner Lee Ashcroft assisted with a flick-on and Sweeney smashed home from close-range.
It was Dundee’s day one their fans savoured for obvious reasons.
For Park gaffer Graham Alexander groaned: “Everything we were against Hearts the previous weekend we weren’t.
“That’s it in basic terms. We were at only 89%. That’s not good
enough. But hopefully we will learn from it.
“We just didn’t approach things the right way.”