Dundee’s Simon Murray says brace against Annan felt ‘brilliant’

Simon Murray was delighted to get his new Dundee career up and running with two goals in a 3-1 win over Annan.

The striker’s late effort put Dundee above Annan in Group D of the Premier Sports Cup before Seb Palmer-Houlden added a third in stoppage-time as Tony Docherty’s side moved out of sight and into the second round.

Murray has already scored for his boyhood heroes in a loan spell from Hibernian but he was keen to start repaying the club after they bought him from Ross County this summer.

Murray told Dee TV: “When I set out I just aim to work hard for the team and try to create as many chances as possible but to get the goals was brilliant.

“I have obviously joined the guys late and am a little bit behind them fitness wise but it’s always good to get the confidence and maybe settle down a wee bit, once you get that first goal you can relax a bit.

“And to get the second one as well, it was a good finish. I missed a couple of chances but the sharpness will come.”

Dundee are the only team to book their place in the second round before the final weekend of group-stage fixtures.

Docherty’s side have the chance to book one of three seeded spots available then they host Inverness at Brechin’s Glebe Park on Saturday.

Docherty said: “It was a hard-fought match but I’m hugely proud of the players because that was the objective we set when we met on the first day of pre-season, to stay unbeaten during pre-season and carry that form on into the cup competition. And I’m really proud of them that they have managed to do that.

“It was something that really annoyed me last season that we didn’t get to that stage but we have done it, the first team to do it, winning our first three games.

“We were not exactly at our best but we found a way to win the tie and that’s why I am proud of them because there was a spirit, determination and mentality and that’s what has allowed us to be the first team to qualify from the group stages.”