Oh Josh! Fans helped Dee get over line, insists boss
Dark Blues boss Gary Bowyer paid tribute to the travelling fans after Josh Mulligan’s early goal gave Dundee a valuable away victory at Starks Park.
It was their fifth win in six games under Bowyer and was the perfect response to last week’s opening day defeat to Patrick Thistle.
“I’m delighted. It was a magnificent result,” smiled Bowyer.
“I’m really, really pleased for the players and especially for our magnificent away support.
“People told me all about them when I got the job, but you don’t always believe it until you see them with your own eyes.
“It was a hard-fought game and we had to go through a storm at the start of the second half.
“I learned a lot more about the players today, and I was delighted for the back four and the goalie after all the hard work they put in this week.”
While Bowyer already seems settled in his new post, Raith manager Ian Murray faces an early headache after watching his team play out a fourth straight game without scoring.
Having also lost to Cove Rangers last week, the Kirkcaldy side props up the Championship table but Murray is remaining “positive” despite the disappointing start to the campaign.
“We more than deserved a point from today’s game,” countered Murray.
“We’re disappointed that we didn’t pick up anything, but we were caught out by an early goal that was probably avoidable.
“The guys worked very hard today, as they needed to do in a blood and guts Championship game.
“I have no complaints about my players in terms of work-rate and commitment.
“If we keep doing that, then we’ll be fine, so I’m still feeling very positive.”
A litany of fouls from both sides scarred the opening 13 minutes, but Dundee suddenly injected some welcome quality when Jordan Marshall set up Mulligan for a low, left-foot finish past home keeper Jamie MacDonald.
Mulligan went close to a second later in the first half, although Rovers also had their moments and midfielder Sam Stanton was twice denied by visiting keeper Harrison Sharp.
There was no let-up at the start of the second period as Dundee’s Shaun Byrne and Raith’s Aidan Connolly were both fractionally off target.
Goalscorer Mulligan drew an excellent save from veteran MacDonald and Zak Rudden hit the Rovers woodwork.
However, the spotlight suddenly fell on Sharp when the Dark Blues custodian slipped yet somehow got away with it as Ethan Ross inexplicably fired wide of the empty net.
“It was a huge chance,” admitted Ian Murray.
“You hope for a bit of luck and you have to capitalise when you get it.”
Sharp redeemed himself with an important late save from Jamie Gullan, while MacDonald twice denied Dundee substitute Luke McCowan to ensure Rovers maintained a foothold in the game and had something to fight for until the end.
MORTON 1
Quitongo (77)
COVE RANGERS 0
Jai Quitongo blasted a spectacular goal to earn all three points and send Morton joint-top of the Championship table.
A fiercely contested battle was settled with a moment of brilliance, in a contest often bereft of quality.
Ton boss Dougie Imrie said: “Overall, I’m really pleased to pick up the three points. I spoke to the boys before the game about the importance of starting the home league campaign with a good result.
“I said to Jai after the game that on another day he’d have scored a hat-trick. It was a fantastic finish.
“We are still a little bit erratic at times – the boys are still trying to gel and it’s the early part of the season.”
Quitongo was involved early when he burst clear before testing Kyle Gourley, and Robbie Muirhead worked the Cove keeper with the rebound.
Cove had their first attempt on 12 minutes when Mitch Megginson’s effort was gathered by Brian Schwake.
Neither side were demonstrating much of a goal threat and Jamie Masson’s shot from distance was comfortably dealt with by Schwake as Cove looked for the breakthrough.
Fraser Fyvie passed up a glorious opportunity after 22 minutes when he found himself in space six yards out, but his weak shot was easily gathered by the keeper.
Shay Logan skewed a low drive just wide before the half-hour mark and Iain Vigurs came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock just before half-time when he glanced a header off the post.
It took a brilliant block on the goal line by Scott Ross to deny Quitongo with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Cove players screamed for a red card when Strapp hauled down Louis Longstaff, but referee Peter Stuart reached for a yellow instead.
The deadlock was broken with 13 minutes remaining when Quitongo spun before lashing the ball beyond Gourlay.
Cove went close when Fyvie’s effort drifted just wide, though Dougie Imrie’s side held on for an impressive win.
Cove manager Jim McIntyre said: “I thought we were the better side first half and created some really good opportunities. The second half definitely belonged to Morton.
“It’s no secret that we need to add three or four more players.”