The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Deadly Dundee clinch trip to Ibrox
Dark Blues hit five past sorry Sons
Dundee produced a devastating display of attacking football to comfortably overcome Championship part-timers Dumbarton in their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round replay at Dens last night.
First-half goals from Paul McGinn and Kane Hemmings dispelled any thoughts of a potential banana skin, with three more counters coming in the second half courtesy of a Greg Stewart double and another by Kevin Holt.
Of course, the victory means Dundee have now secured a mouth-watering quarter-final at Ibrox against Rangers on March 5.
The home side lined up on familiar lines with boss Paul Hartley opting to go with the same starting XI that drew at Kilmarnock at the weekend.
Dumbarton, who were beaten 1-0 by St Mirren on Saturday, included former Dark Blues striker Christian Nade while there was also a place at the heart of the Sons defence for former St Johnstone favourite Frazer Wright.
Dundee were held to a 0-0 draw when the sides first met two Saturdays ago at Dumbarton, with both teams struggling to cope on a quagmire of a pitch.
There were no such problems at Dens on a perfect night for football.
As expected, it was the Premiership side who bossed the opening stages, dominating possession with Dumbarton content to sit back and soak up pressure in a bid to frustrate the hosts.
The tactics certainly seemed to have the desired effect with the Dark Blues struggling to fashion a clear-cut chance in the opening quarter.
However, Dundee did finally create – and take – an opportunity in the 16th minute when skipper Gary Harkins threaded a superb pass through to Paul McGinn in the Dumbarton penalty area with the marauding full-back smashing a shot past Sons keeper Mark Brown for his first goal of the season.
Shortly after, the home side had as care when Jordan Kirkpatrick latched on to a cutback but his tame shot was easily saved by Dundee goalie Scott Bain.
In the 24th minute, Harkins became the first player to be booked with referee Stephen Finnie judging that the playmaker had play-acted and had tried to milk a challenge.
However, there was no doubting the quality of the Dundee skipper’s pass which led to his side’s second goal of the night in the 29th minute.
Harkins sent a probing ball in from the right with Kane Hemmings making no mistake with a delightful close-range finish at Brown’s near post – the prolific striker’s 19th goal of the season.
Nade was next into the book when he went down under a challenge in the Dundee box with the big Frenchman incredulous that the referee brandished a yellow card and did not award a penalty.
Hartley was no doubt a happy man as Mr Finnie blew for half-time with his side well and truly in the driving seat.
The second half had barely begun when Hemmings had a great chance to notch another when he was played in on goal by Greg Stewart but, for once, the hit man’ s composure deserted him and he blasted wildly over the bar.
However, Stewart made no mistake in the 51st minute when he embarked on a trademark right-to-left run along the edge of the Sons’ penalty area before hitting a low, crisp shot past Brown into the corner of the net to make it three and easy for the Dark Blues.
With Dundee in cruise control, Hartley withdrew Hemmings and Harkins for Craig Wighton and Spanish striker Arturo.
In the 70th minute, Brown had to make a smart, diving save to keep out a longrange Rory Loy shot and then Stewart again tried his luck with a run and fierce shot but this time he fired wide.
Loy then seemed to be chopped down in the Dumbarton box. It looked a certain penalty but again Mr Finnie flashed a yellow card at the Dundee striker.
Shortly after, Arturo had a gilt-edged opportunity to make it four but blazed his shot over.
However, the home fans did not have to wait long to celebrate another goal. In the 79th minute Brown could only parry a Wighton strike into the path of Kevin Holt, who gleefully shot into the back of the net.
The icing was well and truly put on the cake in the 91st minute when Stewart net ted a superb second, sending a 22- yard free-kick past the helpless Brown. Attendance – 3,532. Dundee – Bain, Holt, Konrad, Stewart, Loy, Hemmings (Arturo 59), Ross, McGowan, McGinn, O’Dea (Etxabeguren, 76), Harkins (Wighton, 59). Subs not used – Mitchell, Black, Gadzhalov, Kerr.
Dumbarton – Brown, Taggart, Docherty, Buchanan, Kirkpatrick (Fleming 58), Barr, Routledge, Wright, Walsh, Heh (Lindsay 58), Nade (Cawley 72). Subs not used – Ewings, Saunders, McCallum, Waters.
Referee – Stephen Finnie.