Ayr United 3-1 Dundee: Dipo Akinyemi double helps hosts stretch Scottish Championship lead
- Published
Ayr United number nine Dipo Akinyemi has scored six goals in four games
Two-goal Dipo Akinyemi inspired Ayr Utd as they stretched their lead at the top of the Scottish Championship after coming from behind to beat Dundee.
Zak Rudden's close-range finish from Paul McMullan's cut-back within four minutes put the visitors ahead.
But Akinyemi bundled in a reply from Frankie Musonda's header soon after.
Jordan Houston fired his first senior goal after a one-two with Akinyemi, who then scored his sixth goal in four games with a beauty on the turn.
To compound Dundee's misery, captain Ryan Sweeney was sent off in the dying seconds after the centre-half was shown a second yellow card for dissent and midfielder Luke McCowan went off with what could be a serious injury.
Ayr's first two goals came against the run of play, while the hosts had goalkeeper Charlie Albinson to thank for saves from Rudden and Jordan McGhee with the scores level at 1-1.
However, that will be no consolation for pre-season favourites Dundee, who ended the game still in third place, now four adrift of an Ayr side who stretched their unbeaten run to five games and delivered the visitors' first away defeat in five.
The chasing pack get the chance to narrow that gap again with four more Championship fixtures on Saturday.
Ayr United manager Lee Bullen: "Absolutely ecstatic because, let's be right, if you finish above Dundee in the league this season, you're not going to be far off at least play-offs if not top of the table.
"They've got fantastic individual players, got a fantastic manager, but we matched them tonight and took our opportunities when they came with three fantastic goals on the back of a hiccup in the first two or three minutes."
Dundee manager Gary Bowyer: "Very disappointing. We had a wonderful start, but the first goal rocked us a little bit and knocked us off our stride a little bit.
"We are disappointed with the first goal - it looks like he has put it in with his arm. But I have no complaints second half - we were second best and apologies to the travelling Dundee fans."