Dundee 2 - 1 Ayr United: Dundee do just enough to keep dreams of unlikely treble alive

Griffiths headed the winner on 70 minutes to add to Ben Hutchinson's debut goal as Dundee recovered from the shock of losing an early goal to former player Tam McManus.

And with the Alba Challenge Cup already in the trophy room and the championship in their sights the Scottish Cup could complete a dream year for Jocky Scott's men.

"We're not going to think about the prospect of what we can do in the cup yet," said Griffiths. "The league has to be our priority because we want to get into the SPL but it will be nice for the fans for us to go on a run here."

Griffiths rescued Dundee from the bowels of another disappointing home result on the back of recent losses to Airdrie and Ross County as Ayr defied the odds to dominate early on.

McManus, in particular, seemed determined to prove a point to his former employers as he made his Ayr debut following a transfer-deadline move from struggling Irish side Derry City.

His presence alongside Mark Roberts in attack seemed to inspire the Somerset Park side early on as they took the game to their hosts. Midfielder Alistair Woodburn posted the first warning on eight minutes when, after spotting Dens keeper Rab Douglas off his line, he tried to lob the ball in from 25 yards.

A relieved Douglas watched that effort skid wide but he was picking the ball out of the net just three minutes later thanks to that man McManus.

Ryan Borris sped to the byline and cut the ball back for an unmarked McManus to drive the ball in off Dundee defender Eddie Malone to put Ayr in front.

At the other end, Dundee's debutant Hutchinson, on loan from Celtic, had a chance for an instant response when he made space for himself on the 18-yard line only to fire a tame effort straight at Craig Samson.

However, it was Brian Reid's men who continued to impress and only the heroics of Douglas to reach and turn away a long-range Roberts effort prevented the visitors from doubling their advantage on 18 minutes.

Douglas didn't exactly cover himself in glory from the resultant Borris corner either as he spilled the ball to allow Ryan McGowan a clean strike on goal. Only the bravery of Dark Blues defender Gary MacKenzie, back in the squad after injury, prevented a killer second strike.

Then, within moments, Dundee could and should have levelled the tie through Gary Harkins.

Leigh Griffiths broke clear on the left flank and took two Ayr defenders out of the game with an unselfish cutback to Harkins. He steadied himself and looked to pick his spot from 15 yards but somehow miss-hit his effort wide.

However, team-mate Hutchinson saved his blushes on 40 minutes as he pounced on a rebounded Griffiths shot to fire in from ten yards and leave the sides tied at the break.

Samson then gave his old side a huge hand when he spilled a Harkins free-kick to allow Griffiths to head Dundee in front on 70 minutes.

MacKenzie then had a header blocked on the line by William Easton as Dundee tried to make their win more emphatic but in the end they did just enough to get through.

"The most important thing in any cup tie is to win it in 90 minutes and we've done that," said Dundee manager Scott. "From that point of view it's a job well done but I'm still very disappointed in the way we made it hard for ourselves by conceding another slack goal."

Ayr manager Reid said: "We deserved at least a replay and the goals we lost were typical of the luck we carried today."