‘Dispatching Scotland’s third-best team is a statement of intent’

If you can make an argument for 11 different players when deciding who should claim the player of the match award, you know it’s been a great day at the office.

Initially, I was wary of Hearts going into Saturday night’s match. They had just held Rangers to a draw and have recruited strongly this summer transfer window.

If you’d offered me a draw before kick-off, I’d have gladly accepted it.

Scott Tiffoney delivered what could very well be his best performance in Dark Blue to date. His talent and workrate aren’t always reflected in his scoring record, but he got both the goal and the plaudits he deserved.

Tiffoney’s direct style of play positively influences the team, and with early signs of improvement in this Dundee side compared to last season, I sense that ‘Tiff’ will polish his numbers in front of goal.

I was shocked when referee Don Robertson spared Gerald Taylor a sending off – little did we know that decision would benefit Dundee later, as Taylor accidentally slipped the ball past his own goalkeeper to double our lead.

Lady luck has a sense of humour, and I was laughing with her!

Just two minutes later, Tiffoney was brought down in the box and Luke McCowan scored from the penalty spot, putting us 3-0 up at half-time. You’d need to go back to 2017 for the last time we led by three or more goals at half-time in a Premiership game, when we held a 5-1 lead away to Motherwell.

Jordan McGhee is currently our longest-serving player. Every time we cross swords with his former club, McGhee emerges as one of the most outstanding performers on the pitch. Saturday was no exception.

He read each cross into the Dundee box like an open comic book, commanding the backline with exceptional poise. As all good leaders do, he led by example. A truly top-drawer performance.

Malachi Boateng was at the heart of our midfield during the first half of last season until Mo Sylla’s rich vein of form took his place. It was fitting that they would finally go head to head in our first home league game of the season.

It was an enjoyable contest to watch. Boateng was a very positive influence for Hearts in the second half and it was his cross that Frankie Kent met to pull a consolation goal back, but the first-half scoreline proved too much for the away side to overcome.

Our first league victory of the season has been secured as we professionally dispatched the undisputed third-best team in Scotland. That’s a statement of intent.

Dundee now march on. Seven games unbeaten with 23 goals scored holds us in great stead ahead of our upcoming League Cup tie, as we look to defeat Airdrieonians and advance to the quarter-finals.

I’m sure many Dees share my sentiment. I’m proud of how well the team has performed so far and eager to see what comes next.