Date	Saturday, 02 April 2016
Competition	Scottish Premiership
Fixture/Score	Dundee 5:2 Ross County
Venue	Dens Park
Attendance	5,095
Referee	Andrew Dallas
Comments	Match Report Report by Brian McLauchlin for the BBC. Dundee 5 Ross County 2 Dundee leapfrogged Ross County and moved into the Premiership's top six, prevailing in a hugely entertaining Dens Park encounter. Five goals were scored in the first half, with Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings striking early for Dundee. Ross County captain Andrew Davies headed in from a corner before Rory Loy diverted home Hemmings' shot. Alex Schalk netted on half-time, but Craig Wighton and Stewart with a fine solo goal made the points safe late on. After seven minutes Stewart drove through the heart of the County defence before turning the ball onto his favoured left foot and curling it into the bottom corner. Two minutes later Hemmings took full advantage of slackness in the Staggies defence and knocked home his 23rd goal of the campaign. It was no more than Paul Hartley's side deserved after a whirlwind start. Jim McIntyre's team eventually woke up and reduced the deficit after a succession of corners. Davies ghosted in at the front post and with a glancing header knocked the ball beyond David Mitchell to give the travelling fans hope of retaining their place in the top half of the table. And they should have been back on level terms when Michael Gardyne's cross was met on the volley by Martin Woods but the midfielder hammered the ball over the crossbar. Dundee however restored their two-goal advantage as once again the visitors defence was breached. Hemmings had a shot on goal that was glanced into the top corner by Loy giving Gary Woods no chance in the County goal. The first-half action though was far from over. Schalk latched onto a long through-ball and although Dens keeper Mitchell got his hand to the shot there was enough The second half failed to live up to the opening period but there were still plenty of chances created at both ends. Gardyne blasted high over the crossbar from 12 yards out while Ian McShane saved on the line from Dundee top scorer Hemmings as the home side looked for goal number four. County survived a scare when Hemmings managed to get a touch on the end of a Stewart free-kick but the ball trickled only a few inches the wrong side of the post. The home side secured all three points with four minutes left when Wighton hammered the ball home after Stewart's shot was blocked. Stewart completed the scoring when he once again fired home with a cultured left-foot shot that beat Woods. Hartley's side are now in pole position to secure a place in the top six for the season run-in. Dundee manager Paul Hartley was delighted his side overcame Ross County to move into the Premiership's top six. The Dark Blues defeated the Staggies 5-2 in a frenetic Dens Park affair. "I was really pleased today," Hartley told BBC Scotland. "I felt it was a very important game in terms of the top six. "We've given ourselves a chance, a platform for the next two games. It's where we want to be, but there was some great play today." Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart scored twice for Hartley's side, with fellow attacker Rory Loy also netting. The trio's manager said the scoreline did not come as a surprise. "We're a team that plays on the front foot; we like to entertain," said Hartley. "Some weeks you don't know what you're going to get from us, but the majority of the weeks we have been good, we're good to watch, and the front three can cause anyone problems." On speculation over the future of Stewart, Hartley replied: "I don't know [if we can keep him]. With performances like that he's going to attract attention. We can't stop speculation, we want to keep him here, he's got a year left on his contract and it's something we want to try and discuss with him." Ross County manager Jim McIntyre, meanwhile, said it would be extremely painful were his side to fall short of the top six, having held a position in the Premiership's top half for much of the season. Defeat leaves County seventh, trailing Dundee on goal difference having played a game more. "We're relying on favours from other people now," said McIntyre. "We've been in the top six from day one, and it's been progress, but if we're to fall out it like we have this weekend and we don't make it it'd be gut-wrenching. "It'd be a real, real sore one for us, but you've got to say, if we don't get enough points then we don't deserve it."
Ross County
Manager	Jim McIntyre
Starting 11	21: Gary Woods, 2: Marcus Fraser, 7: Michael Gardyne, 8: Ian McShane, 10: Liam Boyce, 12: Richard Foster 1, 15: Andrew Davies 1, 17: Jonathan Franks, 23: Alex Schalk 1, 42: Martin Woods 1, 43: Paul Quinn
Bench	1: Scott Fox, 6: Christopher Robertson, 9: Brian Graham, 18: Stewart Murdoch, 19: Tony Dingwall, 24: Raffaele De Vita, 25: David Goodwillie
Dundee
Manager	Paul Hartley
Starting 11	David Mitchell, Thomas Konrad 1, Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrut, Darren O'Dea, Kevin Holt 1, Nicholas Ross, Paul McGowan, Cameron Kerr, Greg Stewart 2, Rory Loy 1, Kane Hemmings
Bench	Daryll Meggatt, Arturo Juan Rodríguez Pérez Revert, Jesse Curran, Craig Wighton 1, Calvin Colquhoun, Kyle Gourlay, Kerr Waddell