Alloa Athletic 0-3 Dundee: Lee Ashcroft nets twice as Dees move third

Lee Ashcroft crashes in his first header late in the first half

A brace of headers from Lee Ashcroft helped lift Dundee up to third place in the Championship and deepened Alloa Athletic's relegation worries.

The central defender nodded home two corners from Paul McGowan either side of half time as the visitors picked up a comfortable three points.

Max Anderson slammed in an angled shot on the 80th minute.

Jason Cummings was lively up front for Dundee before the break, going close on three occasions.

Innes Cameron wasted Alloa's best chance with a close-range header, while the hosts had a strong penalty claim turned down.

A 12th defeat of the campaign leaves Peter Grant's side four points adrift of Arbroath, who host Hearts on Saturday.

Having now played two games more, Dundee move level with Dunfermline Athletic, 15 points behind the runaway leaders from Tynecastle.

Dundee manager James McPake: "Relieved. It gives me a chance to sleep for the weekend. We were really disappointed with Tuesday (defeat to Ayr) and pleased we had a game quickly. It's a huge three points.

"We had loads of chances but I was impressed with their character tonight. Paul McGowan in particular. He gave a goal away last week and responded well to get two assists. I thought young Anderson was brilliant too and that's eight assists in eight for Paul McMullan."

Alloa manager Peter Grant: "We were always in the game and then we lose the second goal to a set piece. But I'm more concerned with the performance. We didn't create enough or play well enough so I thought we got our just rewards from the game, which was nothing.

"These boys have been a credit this season, I can't ask for anything more from them and we will go again next week. We know we have a fight on our hands, we always do in this division."