Latest From Dens Park

Dundee defender Gary MacKenzie has signed a new contract which keeps him at Dens Park until 2010. which is good news for the club. DUNDEE have decided not to make a move for Trinidad and Tobago international defender Avery John. John, who has been capped over 60 times for his country, was on trial at Dens for the past week but the Dark Blues have decided he is not ready to go straight into their first team. The Dark Blues, meanwhile, are in the dark over a report from the Caribbean that Trinidad and Tobago champions San Juan Jabloteh will be facing them in a Dens Park friendly next month. Jabloteh, who are managed by former England international Terry Fenwick and faced Dundee in a friendly in Trinidad in 2003, are touring Scotland next month and will face Arbroath.

Stirling Albion 1 Dundee 6, Annfield, 23/Feb/08

DUNDEE hit relegation strugglers Stirling Albion for six with a clinical performance which underlined the Taysiders' championship credentials.The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute when Paul McHale's cross, which seemed destined for the arms of goalkeeper Myles Hogarth, brushed off the head of defender Alan Lithgow and into the path of Antoine-Curier, and with the goal at his mercy, the French striker swept the ball into the net for his third goal in three games.Not for the first time this season, Stirling's frailties at the back saw them come unstuck and the situation became worse as Dundee stretched their advantage nine minutes before the break.Hogarth could only palm away Antoine-Curier's drive and Colin McMenamin was perfectly placed to finish the job from close in.Stirling almost pulled one back two minutes after the break but were unlucky as Chris Aitken's 35-yarder came off the underside of the bar and was then headed over by David McKenna.Stirling were to pay dearly and Dundee made it 3-0, Antoine-Curier's clip at goal coming off Laurie Ellis.Antoine-Curier inflicted more damage, leaping up to head in McMenamin's cross from the left and substitute Bob Davidson's bundled drive increased their lead to 5-0.But there was a crumb of consolation for Stirling as sub Colin Cramb tucked away an Aitken corner before Derek Lyle's header completed the rout. A massive result for Dundee, it sets up next Saturdays home game against St.Johnstone..Antoine-Curier took the match ball..so it's looks like it was his goal..

Dundee 2 Morton 0, Dens Park, 16/Feb/08

Dundee narrowed the gap on leaders Hamilton with an unconvincing victory over basement strugglers Morton. Despite Morton being reduced to 10 men, they dominated most of the game and were unfortunate to leave pointless. Mickael Antoine-Curier headed Dundee into the lead after six minutes and Gavin Swankie made it 2-0 with an opportunistic strike. But after that we stopped playing and even have to change goalkeepers after Ludovic Roy picked up a knock. Derek Lyle came on and done well, Morton had a lot of the ball but failed to trouble Craig Samson into any real saves....not good to watch but massive result with Hamilton losing at St.Johnstone 2-1. The gap is now down to 4 points..my wish is for all Dundee Fans to Back the Team as we push to win Promotion..

Motherwell 1 Dundee 2, Fir Park, Scottish Cup, 11/Feb/08..

DUNDEE put their recent first division difficulties behind them last night to claim the scalp of SPL Motherwell and set up a Scottish Cup quarter-final meeting with Queen of the South next month. The Dark Blues headed for Fir Park with just one win—a defeat of Highland League Huntly in the last round—to their credit this year, a run that has left them seven points adrift of leaders Hamilton in the title race. But goals from Paul McHale and Scott Robertson and a smashing second-half performance saw off the Steelmen and sent Alex Rae’s side into the last eight. Dundee’s evening was marred, though, by the late dismissals of Kevin McDonald and Gary MacKenzie, both for double yellow cards. McDonald was hard done by, but MacKenzie could have no complaints. The Scotland under-21 midfielder walked eight minutes from time for catching Stephen Hughes, having earlier picked up a soft looking caution, and MacKenzie followed five minutes later. Having already been booked for a clash with Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith, MacKenzie lunged in on Stephen Craigan, leaving referee Eddie Smith with no real option but to send him packing. Rae had made three changes to his starting line-up following the weekend draw with Livingston, drafting in Swankie, Derek Lyle and Bob Davidson for David O’Brien and ineligible pair Colin McMenamin and Mickael Antoine-Curier. But goalkeeper Ludovic Roy featured despite his wife having given birth to son Oliver—the couple’s second child—earlier in the day. When the first half fell miles short of a classic it seemed justified to blame a surface which had led to the tie being postponed on two occasions. Despite extensive remedial work the park, around 20% of which had been relaid, was in rather desperate condition and all too often promising moves broke down through misplaced passes or players simply losing control of the ball. But after Dundee lit the blue touch paper by scoring early in the second period these two proceeded to ignore the difficult underfoot conditions and produce a rip-roaring cup-tie. Motherwell had looked the more likely side to score in that untidy first half but their best chance fell to Steven McGarry who, having nicked the ball off David Cowan inside the box, passed up the opportunity by having a fresh air swipe. Dundee put a lot of effort into the opening period without ever threatening to score. Within four minutes of the restart, however, they’d broken the deadlock. Roy’s goal-kick was controlled just inside the Well half by Davidson before he released Swankie on the left hand side. Swankie sprinted to the bye-line and fired in a cross that Graeme Smith spilled into the path of McHale. The former Rangers midfielder took a touch and steadied himself before firing into the roof of the net from 10 yards. And six minutes later it was 2-0 as Lyle failed to connect with a McDonald cross at the near post but Robertson arrived to slot the ball into the empty net. Following the introduction of Darren Smith and Simon Lappin, Motherwell hit back. Lappin, sliding in at the far post, narrowly failed to connect with a David Clarkson cross before, on 61 minutes, Smith bulleted in a header from Steven Hammell’s corner to reduce the deficit. Dundee should have dampened home spirits when Smith miscued a clearance straight to Davidson only for the recalled front man to lash the ball high over the crossbar. Being reduced to nine men ensured Dundee spent the remainder of regulation time and five additional minutes firmly on the back foot, but when a misdirected Paul Dixon header looked like producing an own goal Roy responded with a fantastic tip-over save. Apart from red-carding McDonald and MacKenzie, referee Smith booked Motherwell’s Smith (for his part in the bust up with MacKenzie) and Craigan, along with Milan Palenik and Eddie Malone. A vintage performance from the Dark Blues....

Vllaznia..Albania 2003

Livingston 1 Dundee 1, Almondvale, 09/02/08

Dundee boss Alex Rae has warned his faltering stars they can wave goodbye to their title dream unless they stop hiding on the pitch.Rae saw his stuttering side fall seven points behind Hamilton in the race for the SPL after the draw with Livi. Dee were unfortunate not to take the lead in seven minutes when Gary McKenzie's header smacked the post. But it was Livi who edged ahead in 26 minutes as Dundee's static defence failed to deal with Craig James' corner to allow Snodgrass to head home. Dundee were being outplayed but a minute before the interval were thrown a lifeline when ref Scott MacDonald awarded a penalty. Ex-Livi striker Colin McMenamin tumbled under pressure from Lee Makel and James McPake. Although home defender McPake won the ball the spot-kick was given. The decision incensed Livi but on-loan Hibs striker Antoine-Curier kept his cool to slot past Colin Stewart. Dundee rarely threatened after the break and had to rely on some fine saves from Ludovic Roy to deny Snodgrass and sub Leigh Giffiths. With four minutes to go Dundee lost Czech defender Milan Palenik when he collected a second booking for a foul on Steven Craig. A poor display from Dundee, and with Hamilton winning 3-0 the gap is now 7 points..at least StJohnstone got beat at Queen of the South..

Motherwell Game Off Again...

After two pitch inspections Dundee's game v Motherwell at Fir Park was called off, the new date is now Monday 11th of February. Won't make it now as down to work.

Scottish Cup Draw....

The winners of Tuesday’s Scottish FA Cup Fifth Round tie between Motherwell and Dundee will have a trip to Dumfries to face Queen of the South in the quarter finals.Full draw:
Queen of the South v Motherwell or Dundee
Ross County or St Johnstone v St Mirren or Dundee United
Hibernian or Rangers v Livingston or Partick Thistle
Aberdeen v Celtic
Dundee's game at Motherwell will have a pitch inspection at 09:00am tomorrow.

Game Off...................

The Scottish Cup fifth-round tie between Motherwell and Dundee at Fir Park has been postponed following a pitch inspection on Friday afternoon. The game will now be played on Tuesday night with a 19:45 kick-off.

Meanwhile Dundee have turned a offer from Kilmarnock for defender Paul Dixon, but he may move in the summer when his contracts runs out...