Relieved Mcpake praises Griffiths after
DUMBARTON 0 DUNDEE 1
Griffiths (pen. 63)
James Mcpake hailed half-time substitute Leigh Griffiths after his penalty made the narrow difference between his Dundee team and Dumbarton.
The Scotland international striker’s penalty was the only goal of the game as the Sons team – currently ninth in League One – pushed their Premiership opponents all the way.
The Dark Blues gained a man advantage just before half-time when Dumbarton’s Ross Maclean was sent off after a flashpoint with Dundee skipper Cammy Kerr.
Even then, it was with tangible relief that the visitors booked their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup after a tough afternoon.
Mcpake said: “I’ve known Leigh since he was 16 and his record speaks for itself. When he is fit he is one of the country’s best goal scorers.
“We want to give him credit because his allround play was better today. A special mention also to Paul Mcmullan (who also came on at half-time).
“He’s had a dead leg and he’s not trained for a couple of days, but getting him on put a bit of fear into Dumbarton.
“It wasn’t pretty, we know ourselves that we should have been out of sight, with numerous chances. Some of the balls Cammy put in, we
have got to score them – it’s something we’ve spoken about.
“One substitution was due to injury, the other was tactical, but when we are making chances like that we want to have Leigh on the pitch.
“It’s good to be in the next round, and now the focus is on what is happening in our game with St Johnstone on Wednesday.”
Youngster Josh Mulligan started the game for Dundee, having been on loan to Peterhead and scored twice against Dumbarton during that spell. And he ought to have put the visitors ahead after eight minutes,
shooting straight at keeper Sam Ramsbottom after Luke Mccowan’s corner found him.
Maclean almost found the net with a close-range back-heeled effort for Sons before defender Jordan Mcghee almost opened the scoring in fine style.
He went for goal from 40 yards, but Ramsbottom got a hand to his shot to turn it over the bar, before the game’s flashpoint happened.
Maclean was deemed guilty of having elbowed Kerr as Dumbarton prepared to put a freekick into the box, and was given his marching orders. Griffiths had a close-range effort saved early in the second half, but made the difference from the spot after Joe Mckee handled Max Anderson’s cross in the box.
Ramsbottom did get a hand to the penalty, but it was too powerful for him to keep out and Dundee had the breakthrough.
After Kerr missed the target with a header, Griffiths was played in to potentially seal the game for the Dark Blues, but he shot across goal and wide at a narrow angle.
Dumbarton threw everything at it in the later stages of the game, even with a man less, but were unable to find an equaliser.
The closest they got was in the final minute when Conner Duthie went for it with an overhead kick, but his effort hit the side netting.
Sons manager Stevie Farrell said: “It’s very difficult when you are down to 10 men, but I haven’t seen the incident.
“There was nothing in the game in the first half and we stayed positive in the second and had two strikers when we could have just defended.
“My goalkeeper has had one save to make, and it’s a penalty that’s beaten him. But Dundee are through and we wish them all the best.”