Luke McCowan returned to haunt his old club and send Dundee to the top of the Championship table at Christmas.
The ex-Ayr academy graduate helped himself to a stunning double while tormenting his former side all night as Dees made it five wins on the spin.
And they did it despite playing half the Somerset clash with 10 men after Josh Mulligan’s red card.
But when Ayr’s David Bangala was also sent packing midway through the second half, Gary Bowyer’s men pounced for the points.
Dens boss Bowyer said: “We’re buzzing to send the supporters home happy two days before Christmas.
“The sending off changed the whole course of the game but we managed it very well and showed good discipline. Luke scored brilliant goals and it was a brilliant team effort.”
Dundee started on the front foot as they pinned the Honest Men back in the opening exchanges.
The top-of-the-table clash was just 18 minutes old when midfielder Mulligan was shown a
red for swinging an elbow at Nick McAllister.
But Ayr struggled to make their advantage count and it was Dundee who continued to have the better of the play.
Skipper Ryan Sweeney headed just wide from a McCowan free-kick before McCowan himself then shot straight at keeper Charlie Albinson.
Ayr should have been in front just before the break when Logan Chalmers’ cross was spilled by Adam Legzdins but McAllister somehow scooped over from point-blank range.
Ayr were almost caught cold seconds after the restart when a straight ball through the middle cut them open and Paul McMullan fired wide.
Both Bangala and Brad Young went into the book as Ayr were stretched on the counter-attack.
The game was suddenly wide open as Lee Bullen’s side went all out for the win with two wingers.
But it was a tactic welcomed by Dundee, who sat in and hit on the break.
The contest was thrown into the balance midway through the second half when Bangala received
his marching orders for a second booking.
McCowan picked himself up to produce a moment of brilliance as he exchanged passes with Zak Rudden before driving into the box to fire home.
And then he stepped up to curl home a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards with seven minutes to go.
Somerset boss Bullen said: “We looked a yard off it and didn’t show the mentality or belief that we could win the game.”
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