Claiming all three points from a place as daunting as Central Park proves that Dundee can class themselves as genuine title contenders, according to Ryan Conroy.
The winger put the gloss on what turned out to be a good afternoon’s work as Dundee put struggling Cowdenbeath to the sword, adding a second goal late on following a stunning opener from Craig Beattie.
And Conroy insists the manner of the victory shows that the Dark Blues are in it for the long haul.
“It’s not the easiest place to come and I think everybody knows that,” he said.
“Quite a few people have dropped points at Central Park, they make it hard for you and it’s a tight pitch. But I think it was a good performance from the boys and a win is a great result.
“I think you can see with the forward-thinking players, Beattie has come in well and the interchange is good. So we’re enjoying our football just now and I can think you can see the benefits.
“We’re picking up points at home but it’s important to pick up points on the road if we’re going to do anything so hopefully that’s us sorted now. I was just delighted to get my goal and that made it a bit more comfortable for us.”
Cowden keeper Thomas Flynn was beaten after just five minutes on Saturday but thankfully for him Nicky Riley dragged his shot wide of the keeper’s right-hand post as Dundee started well.
The hosts had their first real chance of the game in the 15th minute when great footwork by Stewart outfoxed the visiting defence and gave him room in the area to get a shot away, although Kyle Letheren was down quickly to smother.
However, the visitors really should have taken the lead two minutes later and Peter MacDonald will still probably be wondering how they didn’t.
A quick break forward sent Riley clear down the left to cross and MacDonald somehow failed to control the ball with the goal at his mercy in the middle.
MacDonald was inches away again in 25 minutes with a drive across goal, before a mistake from Gary Irvine sent Kane Hemmings bearing down on goal at the other end.
Hemmings’ low effort was parried by Letheren, and Iain Davidson was on hand to mop up.
Cowden were coming more into the game at this stage and Marc McKenzie sent an effort across goal from a tight angle in 35 minutes after Hemmings’ cross found him unmarked at the back post.
But just as it looked like the teams would go in at the break goal-less, the moment of magic that the game needed came a minute later. Beattie picked up the bouncing ball fully 35 yards out and, spotting Flynn off his line, the former Scotland striker lobbed an unstoppable shot over the despairing keeper to give Dundee the lead.
“Craig is very experienced and he’s a bit of a nightmare for defenders,” Conroy continued.
“He’s a big strong lad and he’s full of running and that’s him not fully fit. I don’t think many defenders will fancy playing against Craig Beattie and it was a great finish for him.”
It was an advantage they took into the interval and the Dark Blues almost doubled it three minutes into the second half through Declan Gallagher, although his header was brilliantly kept out by Flynn on the line.
Flynn was called upon again in 56 minutes to claw out a MacDonald header from close range after Conroy’s pinpoint cross, before Riley fired wide of the post eight minutes later as Dundee sought a killer second.
The visitors looked well on top at that stage and the Dundee faithful were clearly enjoying their side’s work heading into the game’s final stages.
Conroy was sent clear through by a superb MacDonald pass in 67 minutes only to be denied by the onrushing Flynn, before Nat Wedderburn picked up a booking for bringing down Beattie a minute later.
There was some controversy 16 minutes from time when McAlister found the net, only to be flagged offside by assistant referee Morag Pirie.
It was harsh on the visitors as McAlister looked onside when the ball was played through by Beattie, although Conroy’s position may have influenced her decision.
Flynn kept the scoreline at 1-0 again with another superb stop in 78 minutes, this time from Riley who had cut inside after MacDonald had played him in following a mistake from sub Jordan Morton in midfield.
There was a big moment for young Wighton in 81 minutes as he came off the bench to make his first senior competitive appearance for the Dark Blues, but that moment was somewhat eclipsed within 60 seconds as Dundee put the game to bed.
The ball was played through to Conroy who raced clear and made no mistake by firing across Flynn to seal the points.
Sub Steven Doris should have perhaps put some gloss on the scoreline in injury time when Wighton picked him out in the middle, but Flynn again did well to deny the Dundee forward.
All in all, it was a decent afternoon for Dundee but another disappointing one for Cowden boss Colin Cameron.
“I’m disappointed again because it’s another defeat,” he concluded.
“I think it’s plain to see we’re lacking in a bit of confidence, because to be honest I didn’t think there was much between the teams.
“The first goal from our point of view was an avoidable goal, and our decision making let us down at times in the second half. We didn’t have lots of opportunities but when they come along we’ve got to be ruthless.”