Ayr United 0, Dundee 2 as Luke McCowan returns to haunt Honest Men and send Dees top of Championship

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Luke McCowan returned to haunt his old club and send Dundee to the top of the Championship table at Christmas.The ex-Ayr academy graduate helped himself to a stunning double while tormenting his former side all night as Dees made it five wins on the spin.And they did it despite playing half the Somerset clash with 10 men after Josh Mulligan’s red card.But when Ayr’s David Bangala was also sent packing midway through the second half, Gary Bowyer’s men pounced for the points.Dens boss Bowyer said: “We’re buzzing to send the supporters home happy two days before Christmas.“The sending off changed the whole course of the game but we managed it very well and showed good discipline.

Luke scored brilliant goals and it was a brilliant team effort.”Dundee started on the front foot as they pinned the Honest Men back in the opening exchanges.

The top-of-the-table clash was just 18 minutes old when midfielder Mulligan was shown a red for swinging an elbow at Nick McAllister.

But Ayr struggled to make their advantage count and it was Dundee who continued to have the better of the play.Skipper Ryan Sweeney headed just wide from a McCowan free-kick before McCowan himself then shot straight at keeper Charlie Albinson.Ayr should have been in front just before the break when Logan Chalmers’ cross was spilled by Adam Legzdins but McAllister somehow scooped over from point-blank range.