Match ends, Dundee 5, Ross County 2.
DundeeDundee5Ross CountyRoss County2
Dundee leapfrogged Ross County and moved into the Premiership's top six, prevailing in a hugely entertaining Dens Park encounter.
Five goals were scored in the first half, with Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings striking early for Dundee.
Ross County captain Andrew Davies headed in from a corner before Rory Loy diverted home Hemmings' shot.
Alex Schalk netted on half-time, but Craig Wighton and Stewart with a fine solo goal made the points safe late on.
After seven minutes Stewart drove through the heart of the County defence before turning the ball onto his favoured left foot and curling it into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later Hemmings took full advantage of slackness in the Staggies defence and knocked home his 23rd goal of the campaign.
It was no more than Paul Hartley's side deserved after a whirlwind start.
Jim McIntyre's team eventually woke up and reduced the deficit after a succession of corners.
Davies ghosted in at the front post and with a glancing header knocked the ball beyond David Mitchell to give the travelling fans hope of retaining their place in the top half of the table.
And they should have been back on level terms when Michael Gardyne's cross was met on the volley by Martin Woods but the midfielder hammered the ball over the crossbar.
Dundee however restored their two-goal advantage as once again the visitors defence was breached.
Hemmings had a shot on goal that was glanced into the top corner by Loy giving Gary Woods no chance in the County goal.
The first-half action though was far from over. Schalk latched onto a long through-ball and although Dens keeper Mitchell got his hand to the shot there was enough
The second half failed to live up to the opening period but there were still plenty of chances created at both ends.
Gardyne blasted high over the crossbar from 12 yards out while Ian McShane saved on the line from Dundee top scorer Hemmings as the home side looked for goal number four.
County survived a scare when Hemmings managed to get a touch on the end of a Stewart free-kick but the ball trickled only a few inches the wrong side of the post.
The home side secured all three points with four minutes left when Wighton hammered the ball home after Stewart's shot was blocked.
Stewart completed the scoring when he once again fired home with a cultured left-foot shot that beat Woods.
Hartley's side are now in pole position to secure a place in the top six for the season run-in.
Line-ups
Dundee
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 12Mitchell
- 4KonradBooked at 45mins
- 16EtxabegurenSubstituted forMeggattat 73'minutes
- 21O'Dea
- 30Kerr
- 18McGowan
- 17Ross
- 3HoltBooked at 76mins
- 7StewartSubstituted forCurranat 90+3'minutes
- 9LoySubstituted forWightonat 80'minutes
- 15Hemmings
Substitutes
- 6Meggatt
- 22RodrÃguez Pérez Reverte
- 27Curran
- 33Wighton
- 35Colquhoun
- 46Gourlay
- 51Waddell
Ross County
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 21Woods
- 2Fraser
- 43Quinn
- 15Davies
- 12FosterBooked at 41minsSubstituted forMurdochat 44'minutes
- 8McShane
- 17FranksSubstituted forDingwallat 77'minutes
- 26WoodsBooked at 16mins
- 7Gardyne
- 23SchalkSubstituted forGrahamat 70'minutes
- 10Boyce
Substitutes
- 1Fox
- 6Robertson
- 9Graham
- 18Murdoch
- 19Dingwall
- 24De Vita
- 25Goodwillie
- Referee:
- Andrew Dallas
- Attendance:
- 5,095
Match Stats
Home TeamDundeeAway TeamRoss County
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee 5, Ross County 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee. Jesse Curran replaces Greg Stewart.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee 5, Ross County 2. Greg Stewart (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andrew Davies (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Thomas Konrad.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee 4, Ross County 2. Craig Wighton (Dundee) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin Holt (Dundee) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Thomas Konrad.
Post update
Foul by Nick Ross (Dundee).
Post update
Ian McShane (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee. Craig Wighton replaces Rory Loy.
Post update
(Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Quinn (Ross County).
Post update
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Kevin Holt.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Tony Dingwall replaces Jonathan Franks.
Booking
Kevin Holt (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Holt (Dundee).
Post update
Jonathan Franks (Ross County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Darren O'Dea (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
