Steven Milne’s hat-trick helped Dundee rack up their biggest win of the campaign as Hamilton were torn apart at New Douglas Park.
Despite the Dark Blues’ demolition of last year’s SPL side, midfielder Stephen O’Donnell who grabbed his first goal of the campaign insists no-one in the Dens Park squad will get carried away.
Saturday’s success was Dundee’s fourth win on the trot and has seen them emerge as potential title challengers should leaders Ross County slip up. But O’Donnell revealed that manager Barry Smith will ensure feet stay firmly on the ground.
”It was a professional performance throughout the team but the boss and the coaching staff have warned us it’s only three points,” said O’Donnell.
”There is no way you will hear the players talking of possible promotion to the SPL as Barry Smith has told us to concentrate on each game as it comes.
”That is five wins in six matches and it’s a great feeling to see the team playing with confidence. We have now scored 10 goals in the last two matches and just a few weeks ago we found it difficult to score any.
”I am not sure what has changed, although we are getting more lucky breaks than we were a few weeks ago when we were bottom of the league.”
The breakthrough goal came after O’Donnell’s routine free-kick in 23 minutes was dropped by Accies keeper David Hutton and Milne pounced to tap home. Eight minutes later Milne latched on to Gary Irvine’s long pass and, spotting Hutton off his line, sent a beautiful lobbed shot home from 22 yards.
Dundee were on easy street five minutes before the break when O’Donnell fired a screamer into the top corner from the edge of the box after Gavin Rae’s lay-off.
Milne had rights to the match ball within four minutes of the restart when he beat Hutton again with a cheeky side flick from Jake Hyde’s cross-cum-shot.
Hat-trick hero Milne turned provider for Nicky Riley on 71 minutes and then Gavin Rae made it 6-0 on the rebound after Callum Elliot’s shot had been saved.
Hamilton got a consolation goal near the end through Dougie Imrie’s 18-yard shot.
Dundee boss Smith was keeping a characteristically level head despite his team sending Hamilton to their worst ever result at New Douglas Park.
Smith said: ”It was a pleasing performance as the team did everything we asked of them.
”This is a difficult venue to come to and it was a great team performance. Our tactic of pressing the opposition, which is something we like to do, has worked well.
”There is no way we will be getting ahead of ourselves as this is just one win and we now have to focus on Queen of the South next week.”
Smith conceded that Dundee are heading in the right direction after climbing from bottom to third in the space of a few weeks.
”We are progressing and are now sitting in the area of the table we want to be in.”
Shell-shocked Hamilton boss Billy Reid said: ”We are looking a little fragile at the moment and although Dundee were good we conceded soft goals.
”I understand the fans’ frustration as we have just come down from the SPL and we are struggling. I am not going anywhere and I am aware I have a massive rebuilding job to do.”