Greg Stewart hat-trick helps Dundee hammer Dumbarton
Greg Stewart helped Dundee to a morale-boosting first win in the Betfred Cup with a hat-trick in the 6-2 victory over Dumbarton at Dens Park.
Stewart had given his side an early lead and went on to ensure Paul Hartley's side got out of jail after their Championship opponents had raced into a shock first-half advantage through strikes from Frazer Wright and Gregor Buchanan.
The Dark Blues turned on the style in the second half, though, with five goals as Stewart completed his treble while Kane Hemmings claimed a double and captain Darren O'Dea also got on the scoresheet.
Dundee opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Stewart curled a free-kick from an acute angle over the Dumbarton defence and past visiting keeper Mark Brown.
However, the Sons equalised against the run of play on 26 minutes
Gregor Buchanan's cross caused panic in the Dundee defence and, despite Robert Thomson failing to convert, defender Wright was on hand to scramble the ball over the line from point-blank range.
Dumbarton then went ahead on 34 minutes
Ryan Stevenson's corner was met by Thomson whose shot cannoned back off the underside of the bar, and Buchanan stroked into the empty net.
Dundee equalised three minutes after the break, though, as Stewart and Rory Loy combined prior to Hemmings beating Brown.
O'Dea's 73rd-minute header put the hosts back in front and Stewart made it 4-2 a minute later, before completing his hat-trick with 10 minutes left.
And Hemmings completed the rout with five minutes remaining with another calm finish from six yards from Kevin Holt's pass.
Source : PA
Source: PA