St.Johnstone 2 Dundee 0, McDiarmid Park, First Division, 27/September/08

Dundee started with one striker upfront, a formation I don't like personally.St Johnstone enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but were largely toothless, while Dundee did not see as much of the ball but had slightly more menace in the final third. Mickael Antoine-Curier should have put them ahead on 20 minutes when he met Freddy Daquin's free-kick inside the area but his header slipped wide. Then, on 29 minutes, referee Iain Brines made his howler. Dundee's Gary MacKenzie mis-judged a headed clearance and sent the ball spinning past Rab Douglas, his goalkeeper. To the amazement of everyone, Brines chalked the goal off for an alleged push by Martin Hardie. But St Johnstone were a team rejuvenated in the second half and a stunning goal from Sheerin split the sides on 53 minutes. With two defenders around him on the edge of Dundee's box, he spun back and forth looking for an opening before lofting a stunning shot over Douglas from 18 yards. With Dundee floundering, Milne secured the win with four minutes left, thrashing a shot beyond Douglas from 18 yards.
Dundee: Douglas, Cowan, Malone, Dodds, MacKenzie, McKeown, Daquin (McMenamin 63), Paton, Antoine-Curier, Posniak (Davidson 82), Gilhaney, McMenamin (O'Brien 90). Subs Not Used: Mearns, Roy.
Att: 4,307
Ref: I Brines
A poor result for Dundee, playing with just one striker is just too negative for me, as today St.Johnstone were not great shakes. I just hope that Dundee can get a win at Firhill on Saturday, we badly need one now before the gap at the top gets even bigger..

Dundee Sign Rhian Dodds....

Dundee have signed Rhian Dodds on loan from Kilmarnock, he should go straight into the midfield for this Saturday's vital game at Perth. He has played 31 times for Killie, but has not played since last December.

More Injury Woe For Dark Blues

Dundee midfielder Colin Cameron won’t play again this year after it was confirmed he needs surgery to repair damaged knee ligaments. Cameron was carried off during a closed-door game at East Fife on Monday night — just as he battled back to full fitness after straining a medial ligament at the end of the pre-season programme. A visit to a specialist last night confirmed this time surgery would be needed to repair the damage and there was a chance the 35-year-old would undergo his operation today. Exactly how long he’ll be out for will become clear only when he is able to start rehab work in the next few weeks, but there is no chance of him being seen in a Dark Blue shirt before the New Year. Cameron is the second summer signing to go under the knife over the past few days — Jim Lauchlan had an abductor operation in Leeds last Friday. That op. was completed successfully, but it will be up to six weeks before Lauchlan is ready to play. When he does, he may be put out on a short-term loan to get his match fitness up to scratch.

Dundee 0 Livingston 3, Dens Park, First Division, 20/Sept/08

Mickael Antoine-Curier should have put Dundee ahead after a mere nine minutes but wasted Bob Davidson's clever through-ball by smacking a half-hearted effort off the legs off Pierre Martini, Livingston's goalkeeper, when it seemed certain that he would simply curl a shot around him. Livingston, without injured top scorer Leigh Griffiths, proved they still have plenty to offer in an attacking sense and caused Dundee's goalkeeper Rab Douglas a moment of consternation on 21 minutes. Rocco Quinn, on loan from Celtic, switched the play with team-mate Joe Hamill on the edge of the area before collecting the ball again and sending a powerful drive towards goal. Douglas scampered along his line in an attempt to block and was relieved when the shot slipped just past the post. Livingston took the lead on 40 minutes, following some shocking defending. Dundee simply failed to mark up at Fernando Giarrizzo's corner kick, allowing Innes far too much space inside the penalty area to head the ball on target from 12 yards. His effort should have been routine for Douglas but the angled run of Murray Davidson through his eye line clearly distracted him and before he could reach it the ball had nestled in the back of the net. Alex Rae was unhappy with his players' efforts so made two alterations at the interval. Antoine-Curier, who was again ineffective, was sacrificed along with defensive midfielder Chris Pozniak, allowing Colin McMenamin and Colin Cameron an opportunity. Dundee went close on 76 minutes when Livingston failed to defend Paul McHale's corner kick but despite Gary MacKenzie appearing to have the beating of goalkeeper Martini, the defender could not turn the ball home. As Dundee stretched themselves in an attempt to find an equaliser, they were exposed at the back and paid a heavy price with five minutes remaining when Elliot flicked a shot beyond Douglas to make the points safe. The on-loan Hearts striker then compounded Dundee's misery in the final seconds by breaking free of the defence before slotting another low shot beyond Douglas. The Dundee fans reacted badly to events in the final minutes, with the team and manager loudly booed from the park at the end. A poor result and the next 2 games will see where our season is going. My fear is the squad is not deep enough and we have signed players who are not fit yet , and it's nearly October...
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, MacKenzie, McKeown, O'Brien, Posniak (Cameron 46), Davidson, Antoine-Curier (McMenamin 46), Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Cowan, Roy.
Att: 3,631
Ref: A Muir

Dundee 0 Dunfermline Ath 0, Dens Park, First Division, 13/September/08.

Dundee started brightly and Curier twice missed the target early on before the Pars suffered a blow when Stephen Glass limped off with a groin strain. Sub Steven Bell replaced in the middle of the park. David O'Brien and Eric Paton tested Gallacher then Dunfermline survived a major scare seven minutes from the break as Dundee came close to ending the deadlock four times in an amazing 10-second spell in front of goal. O'Brien's shot was palmed away by Gallacher straight to Bob Davidson who saw his low drive blocked by Scott Wilson. The ball then fell to Dens defender Craig McKeown whose mis-hit shot struck the face of a post, rebounding to Mark Gilhaney who drove high and wide. Then Woods and Malone clashed after a meaty but fair challenge, although arguably Dundee suffered more from the decision as Dunfermline defended like men possessed from that minute on. Soon after the restart Gilhaney's cross was volleyed goalwards by Malone but Curier contrived to divert the ball away from goal with his head rather than towards it. Bell and Andy Kirk were off target for Dunfermline in rare ventures forward. However, Gallacher was the standout, making yet another fine stop from Davidson's rising effort and wisely opting to push the ball wide to safety in wet conditions. Paton then delivered a perfect cross to pick out the unmarked Curier but the striker headed well wide with the goal gaping. The Pars survived one final fright when Gallacher spilled a Malone free-kick but his defenders came to his rescue with a series of blocks that epitomised the spirit they had shown all afternoon. Thats the best we have played for a while, and I liked the look of McKeown who looked to be a very good defender. Next game is Livingston at Dens next Saturday which will prove to be vital.

Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, MacKenzie, McKeown, O'Brien (McMenamin 82), Pozniak (Cameron 70), Davidson, Antoine-Curier, Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Cowan, Roy.
Booked: McHale.
Att: 4,259
Ref: E Norris