Dark Blues boss hails ‘best performance of season’ against Ayr

DUNDEE put in one of their best performances of the season in defeating Ayr 3-1 at Dens Park.

That’s according to manager Gary Bowyer after the Dark Blues cut Queen’s Park’s lead at the top of the Championship to four points.

An early header from Ryan Sweeney set Bowyer’s side on their way before Dipo Akinyemi took advantage of some slack defending just minutes later to make it 1-1.

Bowyer, though, was pleased with the response of his side after that and they took the game away from the Honest Men in the second half.

First Alex Jakubiak struck his seventh goal of the campaign on 59 minutes before Luke McCowan sealed the points with 10 minutes remaining.

“I’m delighted, I think it was one of the best performances of the season,” Bowyer said.

“We really took the game to Ayr. Started off ever so well, the goalie – as he has done against us – made three or four good saves first half. I’m delighted to score from a set-piece because the staff have done a hell of a lot of work with the players so to get one should give them confidence in the work they do.

“I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded but I was impressed with how we responded to that.

“We didn’t go under and kept playing.”

Bowyer made a tactical switch as he partnered Jakubiak up front with Zach Robinson in a 4-4-2 set-up.

And the two combined impressively throughout the contest with Robinson setting up Jakubiak’s goal.

“We always had that plan for this game,” Bowyer added.

“I’m pleased with the pair of them. They were relentless in their work-rate.

“One gets the goal but it came from that work-rate.

“Before that goal went in, we got into some great positions and just didn’t make that final pass.

“We still have work to do with that but we’ll build off tonight.”

Gary Bowyer and Lyall Cameron at full time.