Dundee kicked off their Premiership campaign with this emphatic victory over Ross County in Dingwall.
The Dark Blues were well worth their win with striker Rory Loy and summer signing Mark O’Hara stand-out performers for Paul Hartley’s side.
Dundee had a big let-off early on when Kevin Holt had to clear a mishit Brian Graham shot off his own line.
However, the Dark Blues took the lead in the 13th minute when O’Hara burst into the Staggies box before producing a perfect cutback from the by-line for Loy to clinically finish, stabbing home from close range past Scott Fox in the County goal.
The Dundee goalscorer came mighty close to making it two in the 34th minute when he drilled a low shot from 22 yards just inches past Fox’s right-hand post.
However, Loy did double his tally and his side’s advantage four minutes before the break.
Michael Duffy sent a corner in from the Dundee left with the home side’s James McEveley making a clumsy push on O’Hara with referee Bobby Madden having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Loy stepped up to take the penalty and dispatched it in emphatic fashion past Fox.
Dundee could and probably should have made it three in stoppage time when O’Hara embarked on an incredible surging run into the Staggies’ box but he could not apply the finish his hard work deserved, shooting into the side netting.
The Dark Blues would have been expecting a big response from the Staggies at the start of the second 45 but instead, Paul Hartley’s men continued to look comfortable.
And the game was well and truly put to bed in the 62nd minute with a goal of the highest quality.
A County shot was blocked with the ball breaking to Loy who quickly switched play to the right to Duffy. He then squared the ball to Paul McGowan who made no mistake, calmly slotting underneath Fox’s body to make it three for Dundee.
The home side did pull one back in the 67th minute when a Liam Boyce shot was turned in by substitute Craig Curran.
That gave the Staggies hope but Dundee held on for their deserved victory.
