The Barry Smith bandwagon rolls on, with the Dundee players doing their manager proud again as they saw off division one leaders Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park.
OK, anyone can beat anyone in this league on their day but Smith’s men did it with a trialist from the junior ranks in the heart of midfield, all youth players on their bench and without suspended full-back Gary Irvine or guest star Neil McCann.
The unbeaten league run now stretches to 16 matches and Smith has not lost a game as Dark Blues boss, other than a Scottish Cup loss to SPL side Motherwell. It really has been stunning stuff from a rookie manager and his players, be they first-team regulars or trialists like Lochee United midfielder Craig Robertson, who coped well with his dream debut.
As for Raith, they stay top of the table but it wasn’t their night. A goal in each half from Sean Higgins secured the victory for the Dens men, with a terrific Allan Walker free-kick sandwiched in between.
“It was another great team performance,” said Smith. “Every game is not perfect and we are making mistakes but we are reacting so well.
“I was delighted for wee Higgy to get his goals but all the players worked their socks off. I was also pleased for Craig, to come in and put in a performance like that. He didn’t look out of place and did his job in the middle of the park. It will mean so much to him as a Dundee fan. He was there on merit tonight.
“We are now looking ahead to our next game and we just have to keep doing what we are doing. Every single win is important so we move on.”
Rovers gaffer John McGlynn was honest in assessment, saying, “I think we got a doing in the first half and Dundee are the best team we have played. We were very fortunate to come in at the break only one down and the better team won the game without a doubt.
“Now, we just have to hang in there. We have three of our next four games at home so we have to look to pick up points.”
The Dark Blues handed a start to 30-year-old Robertson, the midfield man from junior side Lochee United and the latest of the club’s trialists. Robertson may have donated £16,000 from his testimonial fund to the Dens men but it was being stressed his chance had come about because of his ability and not that fantastic financial gesture.
Missing from the Dundee ranks was the suspended Gary Irvine and injured trialist Neil McCann. It was much more straightforward for Rovers, who were unchanged from the side that convincingly beat Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Saturday.
The visitors were first to threaten on five minutes, with home keeper Andy McNeil producing a fine double-stop from first Gary Harkins then Craig Forsyth, albeit the latter was in an offside position.
Rovers were huffing and puffing but it was Dundee, in their red and white change strips, who came close from Harkins again, with McNeil pushing his strike away for a corner.
Good work up at the other end from striker John Baird on the quarter-hour saw him send fellow frontman Gregory Tade through on goal but the flag went up. The Kirkcaldy men just couldn’t find their rhythm and the chances were still coming at the other end.
Higgins should have done better than just shoot meekly at McNeil when unmarked 15 yards from goal then the goalie did well to parry a better struck effort from the same player.
But Higgins made up for all that on 34 minutes when he gave Dundee a deserved lead. Midfielder Forsyth picked up possession inside the centre circle then raced forward and played a slide-rule pass to Higgins, who took a touch before slipping the ball under McNeil’s body and into the net.
It was the men from across the Tay who looked more like league leaders than their hosts. A rollicking no doubt awaited them in the dressing room at half-time. Whatever was said by McGlynn worked a treat, with Rovers levelling within five minutes of the restart.
Iain Davidson was adjudged to have been fouled by Dundee’s Nicky Riley as the pair ran towards the Dens men’s box. Ref Ian Brines awarded a free-kick a yard outside the area and up stepped Walker to send a superb set-piece beyond the reach of Dundee keeper Rab Douglas.
But Dundee’s resilience shone through again and they retook the lead just four minutes later.
Harkins fed Forsyth on the left, whose ball over appeared to strike a Raith hand before falling to Higgins to prod over the line. It may have been a scrappy one but that didn’t worry Higgins as he celebrated in front of the away fans.
Dundee should have made it three on 68 minutes. Harkins picked up the ball in his own half then off he went, riding tackles on the way, before the ball made its way to Forsyth then the unmarked Stephen O’Donnell in front of goal. He had time to pick his spot but shot straight at McNeil.
Raith piled forward in the closing stages but Dundee keeper Douglas did brilliantly to keep out first a Graham Weir shot then a close-range header from Mark Campbell. In truth, Dundee were worthy winners and the show moves on to Dens on Saturday when Morton visit.
Attendance: 2716.