McPake lauds big impact of classy Adam

A VINTAGE display from Charlie Adam gave Dundee the dream of playing in the Premiership after a stunning first-leg victory at Stark’s Park. The former Scotland international rolled back the years with a magical brace of assists to set up Jordan McGhee either side of the break in a midfield masterclass. It was a double advantage they never looked like surrendering — and when Osman Sow made it three five minutes from time, it killed off Raith Rovers’ hopes. Delighted Dundee boss James McPake said: ‘We came here with a game plan, I think it worked. ‘Charlie is excellent. He’s been through a lot. He loves this football club.’ Rovers were given a sign of things to come in a slipshod opening that saw Iain Davidson gift Paul McMullan a firstminute opportunity that he sliced wide of the target. They did burst to life after just six minutes — but first Adam threw himself full-length to block Brad Spencer’s drive and then Cammy Kerr was the one bravely getting in the way of a Dan Armstrong effort. The energy from the home side was all too brief, however, and their lackadaisical play was punished when Dundee struck first in the 22nd minute. Adam needed only the briefest of moments to pick out the surging run from deep of McGhee with a quarter back style flash of his trusty left boot, with McGhee applying the finish his sensational diagonal deserved as Dundee surged in front. Rovers finally raised themselves from their slumber and only an linesman’s flag prevented them from drawing level. A slick move up the left ended with Lewis Vaughan curling a pass into the heart of the six-yard box where Reghan Tumilty’s close-range finish was wrongly ruled out for offside. It was to prove a pivotal moment as Dundee doubled their lead nine minutes after the interval. Once more, the goal had Adam right at its heart. The skipper lifted his head and brilliantly picked out the dart of McGhee with a curling pass that cut out the Raith rearguard to set up his team-mate’s composed finish beyond MacDonald. When Sow fired high into the net with six minutes remaining after a cutting counter-attack, it was the icing on the cake and a killer blow for Rovers.