Raith Rovers 0-3 Dundee: Visitors take commanding lead in play-off semi-final
- Published
Highlights: Raith Rovers 0-3 Dundee
Dundee are firmly on course for the Scottish Premiership play-off final after overwhelming Raith Rovers in the semi-final first leg.
Jordan McGhee volleyed the visitors in front from Charlie Adam's raking diagonal pass early on at Stark's Park.
Reghan Tumilty was flagged offside after converting Lewis Vaughan's cross but replays showed the Raith man was onside.
Adam sent McGhee clear to slam home his second and Osman Sow added a third.
The sides meet again at Dens Park on Saturday with the winner going on to face the second bottom side in the top flight. With Premiership bottom side Hamilton Academical three points adrift and with an inferior goal difference, it looks likely Kilmarnock or Ross County will be the opposition.
Paul McMullan and Jason Cummings threatened for James McPake's Dundee early on and Raith seemingly did not heed the warnings.
Adam received the ball in a deep position and eliminated the home defence with a ball over the top that left McGhee free to beat Jamie MacDonald, with the home players claiming unsuccessfully for offside.
John McGlynn's side had been second best but they carved out a chance that ended with the ball in the net when Vaughan centred for Tumilty, the flag cutting the hosts' celebrations short.
Tumilty was played onside by at least two defenders, though nearby team-mate Jamie Gullan may have been slightly in front of the Dundee defence.
The visitors started the second half as they began the first and Adam was the architect again with a bending ball in between Rovers defender latched on to and finished well by McGhee.
Raith still had 35 minutes to make a dent on the aggregate score, substitute Gozie Ugwu unable to make the most of a chance that came his way.
And Max Anderson laid the ball on for fellow substitute Sow to slide the ball beyond MacDonald with six minutes left.
Man of the match - Charlie Adam
The experience and class of Adam (left) shone through
What did they say?
Raith Rovers manager John McGlynn: "It's a sore one but we have to take it on the chin.Overall the difference was Adam and the balls he played were magnificent.
"The big talking point is the goal we scored and didn't get. It was a perfectly good goal, it wasn't offside. It's a big ask but if we don't have a go we're beaten and out. We might as well have a go."
Dundee manager James McPake: "We came here with a game planned, I think it worked. I'm delighted for my players. It is only half-time in the tie.
"We've been here before, every club's been in a position where you think, 'yeah, we're comfortable'. We're hoping we've got three games left but that three games could quickly become one if we don't be professional and don't do our jobs on Saturday."