Dundee 0 PARS 1

JACKSON LONGRIDGE'S first goal for Athletic handed them a fine win at Premiership Dundee in the Betfred Cup this afternoon.

The wing-back's superb header from Ryan Williamson's cross was enough to hand Allan Johnston's side victory and take them to the top of Group D.

While the Dees huffed and puffed in the second half, Dunfermline were the more assured side and were dominant in the opening 45 minutes and can take heart from this display ahead of the upcoming league campaign.

Successes at Brechin City on Wednesday night, and at home to Stirling Albion next Saturday, would see them top the group with maximum points.

The last meeting of these two in this competition came in 2015 when Athletic, then in League One, stunned the top flight Dark Blues 3-1 in the second round at East End.

One of the heroes of that night, two-goal Faissal El Bakhtaoui, was ineligible to feature in this one due to being on loan from the Dees, as was midfielder James Vincent.

However, after Tuesday's 3-0 win over Peterhead, Allan Johnston elected to go with the same starting line-up, while Dundee had ex-Pars youth product Lewis Spence listed on the substitutes bench.

After a fitting minute's applause in memory of Dundee legend Alan Gilzean, who sadly passed away earlier this month, the visitors immediately put themselves on the front foot and led within two minutes.

Neat play on the right saw Myles Hippolyte lay the ball off into the path of Ryan Williamson, who scampered clear of his man.

Just like on Tuesday night for Hippolyte's goal, he sent over a delicious cross to the far post where Jackson Longridge was lurking to head superbly beyond the helpless Jack Hamilton.

It was a dream start for the visitors but the hosts suffered another blow after just 13 minutes when Sofien Moussa - seemingly innoucously - was stretchered off with a painful looking knock, to be replaced by Matthew Henvey.

Hippolyte then had a golden chance for number two when he was picked out in acres of space inside the 18-yard box but, with Dundee appealing in vain for offside, he could only scuff an effort at Hamilton.

The former Falkirk man had another go moments later when, after having a header from James Craigen's dead-ball blocked, he reacted to pick up the rebound but Hamilton was equal to it at his near post.

Elton Ngwatala registered Dundee's first real effort at goal in 23 minutes, although his strike from distance was dragged well wide, and that was about as good as it good for the hosts in the opening 45.

Johnston's men looked comfortable and, although their final ball on occasion let them down after working themselves into good areas, they never looked under any great threat.

McCann made another switch eight minutes from the break, hauling Nathanael Ralph off in favour of Jesse Curran, but Jean Alassane Mendy just failing to connect with a far-post cross was all they created aside from Ngwatala's effort in the first half.

But, within three minutes of the restart, they forced Lee Robinson into action when a wicked cross by Ngwatala from the left headed towards the top corner, but the keeper pushed it over and away from danger.

There was a near thing at the other end when goalscorer Longridge nodded Higginbotham's deep far post cross back but Hamilton smothered it before a Pars man could get onto it.

Dundee however had started the second half much better and they almost levelled with a fine piece of play.

Cameron Kerr floated a lovely ball forward and into Mendy who, with a deft flick, got the ball over the advancing Robinson but could only watch in disappointment as it landed on the roof of the net.

The 516 away fans were almost on their feet when Hippolyte was blocked at a corner, before Lee Ashcroft headed over from Kallum Higginbotham's centre, befire Hippolyte fired just wide.

Hamilton then spilled a fierce Craigen drive that then saw Genserix Kusunga hurt as Joe Thomson was penalised in going for the rebound.

Kusunga was then subbed in place of Steven Caulker for Dundee, who then saw Kharl Madianga smash a free-kick off the wall.

The contest was much more open but the Pars almost doubled their money when Jackson Longridge's sublime centre just eluded Hippolyte inside the six-yard box.

If that was close, Dundee came even closer moments later with their best moment of the game in the 73rd minute.

Ngwatala picked the ball up at the edge of the box and, with sublime technique, fired a brilliant shot that rattled back off the bar.

Robinson may have got fingers to it - in which case, it was a stunning save - but Athletic were living dangerously, evidenced moments later when Craig Wighton was inches from turning a cross across the six-yard box home.

There was another heart-stopping moment for the Pars as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes when Mendy headed a flick-on from another set-piece towards goal, but Robinson managed to scramble back and push the ball over.

Andy Ryan was then sent on for Hippolyte, and Aidan Connolly for Joe Thomson, as time began to run down, while Madianga sent an ambitious effort from range not too far over the top.

But, despite having five minutes of stoppage time, the hosts failed to trouble the Pars, who claimed three points and are favourites to advance to the last 16.

Dundee: Hamilton, Kerr, Ralph, Kusunga, Moussa, Ngwatala, Mendy, McGowan, Madianga, Meekings, Wighton.

Subs: Caulker, Jeffries, Curran, Spence, Henvey, Lambert, Parish.

Pars: Robinson, Williamson, J. Longridge, Devine, Durnan, Ashcroft, Higginbotham, Thomson, Hippolyte, L. Longridge, Craigen.

Subs: Todd, Martin, Connolly, McCann, Luke, Ryan, Gill.

Referee: Bobby Madden.