Clydebank 0
Dundee 4
Scottish Cup (Quarter Final)

Match Report

Relations between Dundee Football Club and its supporters have in recent years been strained, to say the least.

Sickened by lack of success, fans have drifted away in their thousands and even those who stayed loyal were giving the players some hefty stick only weeks ago.

At Kilbowie on Saturday, however, both parties played their roles to perfection.

Result? A place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

The 2000-strong Dark Blues' support provided tremendous backing for the players who in turn responded with a stunning first-half performance that, completing the circle, sent the fans into raptures.

Manager Jocky Scott paid glowing tribute to those supporters. "They were absolutely terrific," he said.

Reaching the quarter-final stage of the competition had been something of a struggle for Dundee but they disposed of Clydebank with far greater ease than even the 4-0 scoreline suggests.

Three goals inside the first 21 minutes turned the afternoon into one long celebration with the news from Tannadice that Forfar were leading 2-1 heightening the joy on the terracings.

There were few disappointments in the Dark Blues' line-up but particular mention is due Keith Wright and Vince Mennie both of whom ran their hearts out before being substituted in the second period.

Wright turned in a magnificent, display which belied his lack of experience at Premier level while Mennie, not for the first time of late, received a standing ovation when replaced by Rafferty.

Wright opened the scoring in five minutes from close range after Gallacher failed to hold a McKinlay shot and after a superb break down the right by Mennie.

Tommy Coyne made it two from all of 12 inches, thus maintaining his record of having scored in every round of the competition.

Bankies' defensive deficiencies were again cruelly exposed when John Brown rose unmarked to head home a Mennie corner and, with seven minutes of the match remaining, it was Brown who completed the scoring with a perfectly struck shot from 18 yards.

Four goals, but Dundee could easily have clocked up double figures such was their superiority over poor Clydebank. In addition to those chances successfully converted, they missed no fewer than seven clear-cut scoring opportunities.

"That was our best start to a game in a long time and not just because of the goals," commented manager Scott.

"The players had really geared themselves to winning the match and that showed in the way in which they went about things right from the first whistle."

On the subject of today's semi-final draw, the Dens Park boss said, "I really don't care who we get now, I'm just delighted to be in the last four."

And he claimed, "We've got a great chance of going all the way."

Bankies' coach Sam Henderson said, "Losing those early goals hit us hard but you can't take anything away from Dundee who played particularly well and could have scored more."

It's 23 years since Dundee last reached the Scottish Cup final but the fans who witnessed Saturday's events, and mobbed their heroes at time up, are already making provisional plans for a return trip to Hampden on May 16.

• Dundee have no injury worries for tomorrow night's Premier League clash with Rangers at Dens and striker Ross Jack is available after suspension.

Admission to the game will be by ticket only and these can be purchased from the club shop in the Keiller Centre, and the ground, today and until 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Match report written by The Courier