Dominant Dens men pitch in to close gap on Spiders

ON A terrible pitch that resembled a beach in parts, and in a game that could have placed Dundee in a sticky situation, they managed to avoid becoming stuck in a Spiders web.

Slipping up at home in this Championship title race from here onwards is not an option, so substitutes saving the day for Gary Bowyer’s men against top-of-thetable Queen’s Park was a welcome sight.

After Paul McMullan’s woeful penalty miss after just six minutes, the Dens Park side had to wait patiently before on-loan Rangers midfielder Ben Williamson and striker Alex Jakubiak scored two goals within five second-half minutes.

Left-back Ryan Clampin, who joined on loan from English League Two outfit Colchester United on Friday and had also not long been introduced, then set up captain Ryan Sweeney to make it 3-0 in the closing stages.

Possessing a game in hand, third-placed Dundee are now two points behind Queen’s Park, who suffered their first defeat in eight league matches.

‘I was pleased with the performance but we still need to be better in front of goal,’ said boss Bowyer. ‘We missed the penalty and we are going to have to do more work on penalties, that’s for sure.

‘But what was really impressive was that at half-time they didn’t feel sorry for themselves. We came back out and I am delighted with the win and the clean sheet.

‘All it means is that we have won one game of football and we have three points. We can’t get carried away, we just have to concentrate on the next game.’

Bowyer handed a start to midfielder Barry Maguire following his loan move from Motherwell this week. Sam Fisher, who was recalled from Dunfermline after an impressive first half of the season at the League One leaders, started at right-back.

There was no sign of Zak Rudden in the squad, with the striker reportedly closing in on a move to St Johnstone.

‘There is speculation, so we will see where that one takes us,’ added Bowyer. ‘I will never stand in the way of anyone who wants to play higher or better themselves. I have always said that to players as a manager.

‘There has been an enquiry, so we will just have to see because obviously we can’t leave ourselves short.’

The hosts were delivered with a gift inside six minutes when they won a penalty. McMullan’s pace was too much for Tommy Robson to handle and he tripped the winger inside the box. The left-back’s dejected look told the story. Stonewaller.

Unfortunately for the Dark Blues, they handed a present straight back to the visitors. McMullan’s penalty was abysmal, straight down the middle, and Queen’s Park goalkeeper Calum Ferrie barely moved in the middle of the goal as he clutched the ball.

Owen Coyle’s men proceeded to have a few more shaky moments at the back. Midway through the first half, Fisher’s cross found Sweeney charging in at the back post but he could only steer his header over the bar.

Queen’s were still sniffing around, though, and when Dundee youngster Lyall Cameron gave away possession 30 yards from his own goal, Grant Savoury took over but he curled an effort over the bar.

With half-time approaching, Malachi Boateng fouled McMullan nearly 25 yards from goal. Luke McCowan took the free-kick but his low effort — not an unwise move on a bobbly pitch — was held by Ferrie.

Dundee should have been ahead within the opening minute of the restart but Jordan McGhee’s weak close-range effort was parried by Ferrie before on-loan Sutton United striker Kwame Thomas did no better.

Queen’s Park then wasted a chance to pounce when on-loan Rangers winger Josh McPake was allowed to cut in from the left but he blazed an effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

McMullan burst forward on the hour mark but his effort from an angle was dragged wide as the hosts tried to find the breakthrough.

It finally arrived on 69 minutes when Dundee’s two substitutes combined. Jakubiak was given room to cut in on the left. His effort was blocked but when the ball fell to Williamson he smashed an effort in off the underside of the bar.

Jakubiak then got in on the act five minutes later when he met McMullan’s cross from the right and chested the ball in at the back post.

It was 3-0 with seven minutes remaining when Clampin burst down the left to set up Sweeney, who steered the ball home.

Queen’s manager Coyle said: ‘We’re a young group with a lot to learn and games like this will help us. A lot of them don’t have that big-match experience.

‘We dust ourselves down. Of course, it was a missed opportunity for us to open up a gap and Dundee have closed it. But we’re taking nice steps.’

DUNDEE (4-2-3-1): Legzdins; Fisher (Clampin 76), Ashcroft, Sweeney, Kerr; Maguire, McGhee; McMullan, Cameron (B Williamson 63), McCowan (Jakubiak 63); K Thomas (Sheridan 76). Subs (not used): Sharp, Anderson. Booked: McCowan.

QUEEN’S PARK (4-2-3-1): Ferrie; Davidson, Kilday, Fox, Robson; Thomson, Boateng; Thomas (Henderson 67), Savoury (Healy 85), McPake (S Williamson 85); Murray (Longridge 85). Subs (not used): Heraghty, Biggar, Bannon, Jarrett, Eze. Booked: None.

Referee: Euan Anderson. Attendance: 5,004.