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Dundee verdict: Player ratings, star man and key moments as nervy Dee edge out Hamilton to move point off top spot

Paul McMullan spins away in celebration after notching for Dundee against Hamilton Accies. Image: SNS.
Paul McMullan spins away in celebration after notching for Dundee against Hamilton Accies. Image: SNS.

Dundee made it three wins on the spin as they edged past bottom side Hamilton in a nervy Dens encounter.

Accies may be bottom of the table but the home side had goalkeeper Ian Lawlor to thank for keeping John Rankin’s side out.

It was far from the best performance of the season from the Dark Blues but they got the job done with Paul McMullan’s 56th-minute winner.

And moved themselves to within a point of leaders Ayr United after the Honest Men drew in Inverness.

Ben Williamson and Scott Martin battle in midfield. Image: SNS.

Key moments

The opening 45 minutes was not a half to remember.

It was Accies who came closest to opening the scoring only for Ian Lawlor to deny them with a superb sprawling save.

The rebound from Andrew Winter’s effort dropped in the six-yard-box but Ryan Sweeney was there to stick his head in where boots were flying, winning a free-kick as Jean-Pierre Tiehi swung for the ball.

Lawlor denied Winter (on the ground) before Tiehi’s challenge on Sweeney was given as a foul. Image: SNS.

The Dark Blues upped their game in the second-half, however, with Lee Ashcroft denied on the line four minutes after the break.

And they finally broke the deadlock on 56 minutes.

The only goal of the game came through super forward play from Zak Rudden.

The substitute latched onto a Ben Williamson pass, beating his man and laying the ball on a plate for McMullan to finish at the far post.

Dundee would suffer a blow with in-form frontman Zach Robinson limping off after an hour of play.

And Accies were still well in the game and were inches away from a leveller as Reegan Mimnaugh curled a superb effort off the crossbar from 25 yards.

The Dark Blues, though, saw the game out to seal what could prove a vital three points.

Dundee’s star man: Ian Lawlor

Ian Lawlor. Image: SNS.

Not always a crowd favourite in his time at Dens but goalie Lawlor is yet to taste defeat this season, having played the last five games.

This was the third victory and third clean sheet but he was far busier this afternoon than in any of the previous four.

An excellent save kept it goal-less in the first half before he denied Dario Zanatta with another good stop after the break.

Overall, a very solid performance capped with some key saves earned the points for his team.

Player ratings

Lawlor 8, Sweeney 7, Ashcroft 7, McGhee 6, Kerr 7, French 6, Byrne 7, Williamson 7 (Robertson 72, 6), McMullan 7, Sheridan 5 (Rudden 46, 7), Robinson 6 (Osei 61, 5).

Subs not used: Legzdins, Sharp, Jakubiak, Mulligan, McCowan, Cameron.

Attendance: 4,293

Manager under the microscope

Dundee boss Gary Bowyer ahead of the game. Image: SNS.

Boss Gary Bowyer stuck with the same back-line that saw the Dark Blues through at Partick Thistle and last week against Raith Rovers.

The back three was in place but things changed in attack with three enforced changes.

Max Anderson and Joe Grayson were out with injuries picked up against Rovers while Josh Mulligan was sent home from Scotland U/21 duty with a knock.

He was fit enough for the bench, however. Incoming were a first start for Shaun Byrne since August 6, a return for Ben Williamson and a spot up front for Cillian Sheridan.

That only lasted 45 minutes as Rudden took his place at half-time and made a big impact second half.

Derick Osei and Fin Robertson would also emerge from the bench to help their side to victory.

Man in the middle

Referee Graham Grainger at Dens Park. Image: SNS.

Graham Grainger had a largely quiet afternoon with no big decisions of note.

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