The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Rangers next as Dark Blues ease through in cup
Dundee boss James Mcpake says he would have taken a home draw against Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarterfinals ahead of the last-16 tie at Peterhead.
That’s because it would have meant his Dark Blues had navigated a tricky away clash at Balmoor.
And so it proved as the Blue Toon took the game to their Premiership opponents and were unfortunate to go in at half-time a goal down to Charlie Adam’s penalty.
The top-flight quality told in the second half, though, as Adam set up Niall Mcginn for his first Dundee goal before Josh Mulligan sealed a 3-0 victory late on.
“It wasn’t pretty but it’s job done, objective complete and we are in the quarterfinals with a home tie,” said Mcpake.
“Credit to Peterhead, they were good and we knew it would be tough.
“The TV was here for one reason, the possibility of an upset, and we had to make sure that didn’t happen.
“We’ve been in the quarterfinals of this cup once in eight years which, for me, isn’t enough.
“Tonight was a great opportunity but it was also a tough one.
“We knew we were going to be pushed and it was just about getting through it.”
The draw for the quarterfinals was held after the fulltime whistle at Balmoor with Dundee drawn at home to champions Rangers. Dundee United are at home to Celtic.
The ties will take place on the weekend of March 12.
Mcpake is looking forward to the Dee’s tie but insists his mind is wholly on the “pivotal” league matches between now and then.
“If you’d asked me before if we would take Rangers in the next round at Dens, I’d have said absolutely because then I knew we’d be through,” Mcpake said.
“The main thing was getting through tonight and we have some huge league games coming up.”
Mcpake added: “We’ve been the heavy favourites in these two ties but we’ve done enough to get through.”
ACharlie Adaminspired Dundee booked their first Scottish Cup quarter-final appearance since 2016 with a hardfought win at Peterhead – with Premiership champions Rangers next up at home.
The Dark Blues didn’t have everything their own way, however, as the young League One side impressed for much of the contest.
Indeed the Blue Toon made most of the running in the opening hour but found themselves two goals behind thanks to an Adam penalty and a Niall Mcginn finish.
Josh Mulligan would return to his old club to complete the victory, making it 3-0 with two minutes to go.
There was no Zak Rudden for Dundee after his impressive start to life at Dens Park.
Despite being a striker down, manager James Mcpake stuck with the back three that worked so well in the win over Hearts with Mcginn replacing the cuptied Rudden up top.
There was a debut for onloan Bournemouth defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi in the centre of defence with Jordan Mcghee on his right and Ryan Sweeney left.
The hosts, meanwhile, had former Dee Ryan Conroy at full-back and veteran striker Derek Lyle on the bench.
Flynn Duffy, on loan from Dundee United started at left-back.
The League One side started brightly with midfielder Scott Brown lining up a long-ranger but he hit it straight at Ian Lawlor, before Niah Payne then tested the Dee goalie.
Jim Mcinally’s outfit kept that positive opening going, not letting their Premiership opponents settle into any rhythm.
Not much was happening in either goalmouth until a burst from Paul Mcmullan earned Dundee a penalty kick on 32 minutes.
The Dark Blues won the ball in the Peterhead half and Mcginn set the speedy Mcmullan in on goal with the winger touching the ball past Brett Long before the goalie piled into him.
Skipper Adam stepped up to give his side a lead they had scarcely deserved.
Minutes later and the Blue Toon were millimetres from levelling the score as Hamish Ritchie turned the ball on to the post.
Luckily for the visitors, the ball dribbled across goal and out for a goal kick.
And luck was on their side once more as the game drifted towards half-time.
A slip from Lawlor after receiving a Mcghee backpass had the goalkeeper scrambling and he took out Peterhead’s Ryan Duncan. Despite the howls from the home support, referee David Munro wasn’t minded to even up the penalty count.
Peterhead continued their positivity after the restart, too, as Andrew Mccarthy fired just wide from the edge of the area and a Grant Savoury freekick brought a flying save from Lawlor.
The class of Adam counted, though, as Dundee extended their lead on 53 minutes.
The Dark Blues skipper had space to lift his head and picked out a beauty of a ball over the top for Mcginn.
The former Aberdeen man took a good touch inside before firing past the keeper for his first goal since making the move from Pittodrie.
Danny Mullen would add to the shot count moments later but fired well over the bar into some bushes behind the goal.
Peterhead kept pushing, though, and Lawlor had to be alert again to push a curling Payne effort round his post.
Former Dee Derek Lyle, just turned 41, came off the bench for the final 15 minutes, but there was to be no comeback for Mcinally’s men as the Dark Blues saw the cup-tie out.
And they even managed a third as Mulligan, having not long finished a loan spell at Balmoor, curled a fine finish into the corner late on.