Mcpake’s Dee-light as Dundee get back to winning ways
Mullen (55), Anderson (82) ARBROATH 0
DUNDEE 2
Dundee manager James Mcpake hopes his team can go on a winning run after yesterday’s 2-0 victory over Arbroath.
Second-half goals from Danny Mullen and Max Anderson wrapped up the points for the Dark Blues, who leapfrogged Queen of the South into fourth place.
With Ayr United calling in at Dens Park on Tuesday, the Dee boss has challenged his players to start stringing together positive results in their quest to make the play-offs.
“We needed to start this run right by getting three points,” he said.
“We need to get back to winning here because we were disappointed, still am, at that Queen of the South game (a 3-2 home defeat). That shouldn’t have happened.
“It’s about how quickly we can get back on board and winning games of football.
“We did that and we’re pleased. We’ll be back in for Tuesday night, which will be another tough game, but it needs to be another three points.”
The Dark Blues showed two changes from last weekend’s
2-1 defeat at Hearts with Adam Legzdins coming in for his first start, replacing Jack Hamilton in goal.
On-loan Spurs kid Malachi Fagan-walcott was in for Liam Fontaine, who missed out with an Achilles injury.
The Red Lichties made one swap from their 4-2 win over Queen of the South last Saturday, Michael Mckenna for Bobby Linn.
If not for the lineman’s flag going up, Jason Cummings was clean through on goal on 12 minutes after a sustained period of early pressure from the hosts.
Cummings appeared to be onside, much to the bemusement of the Dee bench.
The visitors had the first chance of the match moments later, though, as Legzdins got down well to save from Mckenna.
Mullen was an inch away from getting a toe on Paul Mcmullan’s chip to the back post but Derek Gaston gathered comfortably.
Young midfielder Anderson, who impressed throughout, was through soon after but couldn’t get the ball under his spell.
On the half-hour mark, Jack Hamilton burst into the Dundee area and fired a dangerous ball across the six-yard box but
Fagan-walcott did well to turn it behind. From the corner, FaganWalcott brought down Jason Thomson and Willie Collum pointed to the spot.
Mckenna stepped up to take the penalty but it was a poor effort Legzdins was more than a match for, palming it to his left.
A minute before half-time, the ball fell to Fagan-walcott from a corner but the big centre-back saw his shot blocked before Cummings blazed the rebound over.
Early in the second period, Mullen had a fabulous opening but spurned the chance, sending his shot high over the bar.
Mullen made amends five minutes later, heading across Gaston to break the deadlock after fantastic wing play from Mcmullan on the right flank.
His sixth goal of the season was the 26-year-old’s last involvement, captain Charlie Adam replacing him.
Dale Hilson lashed a freekick wide on 68 minutes as Dick Campbell’s men tried to claw themselves back into the contest.
However, teenager Anderson found the back of the net on 83 minutes to quash the visitors’ hopes, getting on the end of another Mcmullan cut-back to stab home inside the area.
The result means Dundee leapfrog Queen of the South into the play-off spots, while the Red Lichties remain second bottom.