Dundee 3 - 1 Morton: Cup success continues to spur Dundee

Published on Saturday 19 December 2009 20:48

Griffiths 54; Harkins 65; Malone 87 Weatherson 60

BIG results breed confidence and Jocky Scott, the Dundee manager, has pointed to his team's ALBA Cup win over Inverness last month as the catalyst behind their soaring form. Dundee moved seven points clear in the title race yesterday and will now occupy top place on Christmas Day – a pointer in nine of the last ten championships.

Goals from Leigh Griffiths, Gary Harkins and Eddie Malone gave Dundee victory, while Morton, who were better than the scoreline suggests, scored through Peter Weatherson to briefly level.

Catching Dundee will be a tough proposition for the other clubs and Scott believes their cup victory has been a pivotal moment. "The lads have been playing with much more confidence and I think that stems from the final.

"We did not lack confidence earlier in the season but with the way they came back in that game, from two down to win 3-2, they have an unbelievable belief in themselves. They are going into every game thinking they can win and that has been shown in the results.

"With a few of the other teams not playing this was a big day for us, although there's a long, long way to go."

The heavy snowfall just after lunchtime put the game in doubt but some hectic work from Dundee's groundstaff ensured the game went ahead, albeit in Siberian conditions.

The visitors, rejuvenated since the appointment of former Dundee player James Grady as their manager, created the first chance after ten minutes when a deep cross by Jim McAllister floated over the head of the home defence for Ian Russell. The diminutive striker cleverly anticipated the pass and attempted to lob the ball over Rab Douglas in goal but his shot flew over.

Douglas was involved again three minutes later when Weatherson blasted a free-kick on target from 25 yards but the keeper pushed it round the post.

Morton's Stewart Greacen saved his team on 23 minutes. The visitors were caught square by Gary Harkins' cross from the right-hand side and Craig Forsyth was odds-on to poke a shot home from six yards, but Greacen threw himself in front of the ball to clear.

Harkins was next to threaten, shooting from the edge of the area but his effort was well blocked by goalkeeper Colin Stewart. The keeper was involved again on 30 minutes, this time producing a great save to deny Forsyth. A Harkins corner was met by Forsyth, who prodded a shot from six yards out. It looked destined for the net until Stewart flicked out a hand to parry it away. The danger remained live, though, as the ball started to roll towards the net but Carlo Monti cleared off the line.

Dundee appealed for a penalty on 34 minutes when a Harkins volley struck the arm of defender Dominic Shimmin, but the contact looked accidental so referee Calum Murray waved play on.

The impasse was broken on 55 minutes when Griffiths, who had been subdued until then, ghosted in at the back post to meet a Forsyth cross and his header left Stewart with no chance.

That lead lasted only five minutes, though, as Weatherson got on the end of Kevin Finlayson's deep cross. But Dundee got back in front on 65 minutes. A sublime flick by Griffiths freed up Hart and after bombing forward he picked out Harkins, who side-footed home from 12 yards out. Dundee put the result beyond any doubt in the dying minutes when Malone flicked a Forsyth corner kick in at the near post.

"We were naive," said Grady. "We played some good stuff but we lost poor goals. I have to ask myself if some of these guys are mentally tough enough. That's something we'll have to decide. If the answer is no then we'll have to look into adding more quality in January."