Dundee manager James McPake hailed his sides classy 3-0 victory at Alloa as the best performance of the season.

The Dens Park side dominated a lopsided affair at the Indodrill stadium in chalking up back-to-back league wins for the first time since May 2018.

The visitors deservedly went ahead in the 15th minute when Kane Hemmings notched the first of his double.

The former Oxford player doubled the Tayside outfits lead six minutes before the break before turning provider for substitute Sean Mackie to wrap up the scoring in the 75th minute.

Hemmings should also have left with the match ball but hit a wild shot well wide at the end.

McPake, whose team remain six points behind Championship leaders and city rivals United, said: Weve been as good at times in certain games but as a compete performance, yeah, that was it against a very good and dangerous team.

To come and perform at that level for 94 minutes, Im very pleased.

When youve footballers in there with the pedigree of Graham Dorrans, Paul McGowan and Shaun Byrne theyve got a way of playing that they enjoy and have an understanding now.

I thought Graham was outstanding and you can see he is now getting to a level of fitness that only games bring.

Im delighted hes at my football club but the other players complimented him as well.

The visitors had history on their side as they looked to build on Fridays 2-1 victory at Ayr, having not been beaten at Alloa on league duty since 1939.

McPake had confidence in the same group of players to come up with the goods after naming an identical starting XI from the trip to Somerset Park.

Aside from a low left-footed effort from Adam Brown that had Conor Hazard diving to his left to make a routine save, Dundee dominated the early stages.

The central midfield triumvirate of Graham Dorrans, Shaun Byrne and Paul McGowan dictated the direction of play as Alloa chased shadows.

Dundees first sight of goal came after eight minutes when Andrew Nelson advanced from midfield before hitting a wayward shot harmlessly wide.

But Hemmings made no mistake from close range as he notched his second of the season in the 15th minute.

The forward exchanged passes with Declan McDaid before drilling a low drive through the legs of Jamie MacDonald.

The away side had their tails up and continued to press.

Nelson hit a fizzing drive from outside the area over the bar before Cammy Kerr, from a similar distance, also fired high of the frame moments later.

Although McPakes side continued to exert their influence, penetrating their opponents rearguard was not so straight forward.

That was until six minutes before the break when Hemmings doubled his and his teams lead.

The forward was picked out at the back post by Jordan Marshalls menacing delivery and cooly placed a right-footed volley past the hapless MacDonald.

Alloa briefly thought they had dragged themselves back into the game seconds before the break but Liam Buchanans effort was disallowed for offside.

Alloa overturning a half-time two-goal deficit to earn a point against Queen of the South at the weekend would have served as a warning to the Dundee players when they returned for the second period.

Alloa did manage to conjure their best chance of the game but Liam Buchanan shot well over after being picked out by Scott Taggart on the edge of the box.

Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan was as just as wasteful when he swung an effort off target from 18 yards.

Alloa were much improved following the break but Hemmings came close to grabbing his hat-trick in the 62nd minute.

The former Oxford marksmans left-footed effort across goal was well saved by the outstretched McDonald.

However, Hemmings then turned provider for Mackie to score in the 75th minute, just moments after the on loan Hibs player replaced Nelson.

Mackie cooly placed the ball into the gaping net from six yards.

Another chance came and went for Hemmings in his bid to achieve a personal milestone, the forward lashing McDaids lay-off well wide from ten yards.

Alloa manager Peter Grant said: The better team won, its the first time weve been outplayed and you have to give credit to the opposition I thought they were excellent.

Alloa: MacDonald, Robertson, Graham, Taggart, Deas, Hetherington, Trouten, OHara, Flannigan, Buchanan, Brown (ODonnell 83)

Substitutes not used: Henry, Gilhooly, Gillespie, Thomson, Malcolm

Dundee: Hazard; Kerr, McGhee, Forster, Marshall; Byrne, Dorrans (Ness 83); McDaid, McGowan (McPake 80), Nelson (Mackie 72); Hemmings

Substitutes not used: Ferrie, Meekings, Johnson, Robertson

Referee: Barry Cook

Attendance: 1,218

Originally posted here:
Classy Dundee cruise to 3-0 win at Alloa with best performance of the season - The Courier