Lastest News From Dens Park...

Dundee boss Jocky Scott continued his planning for the future today when he fixed up the man he believes might be the best goalkeeper in the country right now on a new long-term contract. Rab Douglas has pledged his future to the Dark Blues until at least the summer of 2011. The 36-year-old former Scotland man’s performances since resurrecting his career by returning to Dens Park last summer on a one-year deal have attracted attention from elsewhere. Today, though, the big man stuck to his intention of seeing out his career as a Dark Blue when he penned his new deal.

Dundee have signed up Montrose goalkeeper Tony Bullock on a pre-contract agreement. Bullock, 36 left Ross County recently and is currently playing at Montrose until the end of the season, but will train full-time with the Dark Blues ahead of his summer move.

Eric Paton has signed a new 3 year deal at Dens Park , I see it as a massive boost as he has been one of the better players this season. Hopefully Rab Douglas and Gary McKeown follow suit. Manager Jocky Scott has done well retaining his services as rumours had it St.Johnstone were interested. Andrew Shinnie has signed now unti the end of the season. Eddie Mearns and Bob Davidson remain at the club, Clyde were linked with Davidson ans Mearns played a trial with Ayr United.

Airdrie United 1 Dundee 0, Excelsior Stadium, Irn Bru First Division, 24/January/09..

Dundee made changes Williams coming in for Antoine-Curier, and Benedictus replacing the injured Lauchlan. Dundee made the first attack with Daquin getting to the line , but his cross is cleared. The game was halted after three minutes when referee Brian Winter noticed that Dundee had two No.5 jerseys on the park and Kyle Benedictus had to leave the pitch to put on his allocated No.6 top.The match threatened to get off to an open start when McLachlan crossed for Di Giacomo and his drive forced a fine save from Rab Douglas. The ball was cleared to the other end and Colin McMenamin got in behind the Diamonds' defence, but he screwed his shot wide.Both teams saw this as a sign to close their opponents down and although Kevin McDonald had a drive deflected wide neither keeper was called into much action in the rest of the half.Airdrie came close to breaking the deadlock when Simon Lynch went on a solo run in 56 minutes and rattled Douglas' bar.Airdrie finally went ahead when Hazley sent in a free kick from the left low into the box where Lynch flicked the ball into the air and Di Giacomo ran in to volley it through Douglas' legs from seven yards out.Dundee tried to hit back and Eddie Malone crossed from the left for McMenamin but he headed straight into Robertson's arms. Airdrie came within inches of another goal when McKenna headed goalward where Eric Paton cleared off the line. Dundee did have a late chance but McHale's shot was blocked, it broke to McMenamin his shot also blocked with Airdrie being able to clear..and that was it as the full time whistle went..
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, McKeown, Benedictus, Daquin (Young 78), Shinnie (Antoine-Curier 58), McMenamin, Williams (Cowan 46), O'Brien. Subs Not Used: MacKenzie, Roy.
Att: 1,303
Ref: B Winter
I missed the game so can't comment too much on the performance, but I don't like the idea of one striker, we won't score enough goals playing tactics like this, the bottom line is the midfield is not good enough, the wingers don't deliver enough quality crosses in..and leaving Curier our top goal scorer on the bench is crazy..

Dundee 0 Morton 0, Dens Park, Irn Bru First Division, 17/January/09

Dundee were indebted to an inspired display from keeper Robert Douglas as they secured a draw against Morton. The ex-Scotland international was in tremendous form and pulled off three fantastic saves to keep Morton at bay. Masterton's first effort, a 20-yard dead ball, whizzed just wide on 15 minutes but as the clock ticked down he got even closer.Team-mate McGuffie then forced a save out of Douglas from 20 yards and the Dark Blues No 1 continued his heroics from the resultant corner to save a header from the visiting midfielder.The game was in Morton's hands at this stage but the home side could well have taken an undeserved lead on the half hour had Colin McMenamin reacted quicker to Mickael Antoine-Curier's rebounded 15-yard strike.Then, Masterton had two more free-kick efforts to trouble Dundee – one cracking off the base of the post and the other turned wide by Douglas.The second half followed much the same vein as the first with Douglas again underlining his worth with a fingertip save from Brian Wake on 59 minutes. Dundee's best chance of the game came in the 69th-minute when Mickael Antoine-Curier's shot was parried into the path of Colin McMenamin. However, the striker, blasted over an open goal from just six yards out.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton (Posniak 59), Malone, McHale, McKeown, Lauchlan (Cowan 26), Daquin( Young) Shinnie, McMenamin, Antoine-Curier, O'Brien. Subs Not Used: Deasley, Roy.
My MoM goes to Rab Douglas four outstanding saves, he has been brilliant all season. But it's 2 more points dropped and with St.Johnstone drawing at Partick Th, it was a big chance to cut the lead.

Team News....................

For the game against Morton at Dens, Dundee will be without central defender Gary MacKenzie and Mark Gilhaney, who have both been ill.David Cowan recovered from the head knock he picked up against Celtic last week. Colin Cameron has joined Arbroath on loan for a month, a good move it will get his fitness up to speed quicker.
Goals From Celtic v Dundee

Celtic 2 Dundee 1, Parkhead, Scottish Cup, 10/January/09

I missed the first 12 minutes due to the turnstyles not working, just in time to see Artur Boruc's fresh-air swipe in the 14th minute allowed Colin McMenamin to put the First Division side in front. It had been another blunder from the goalkeeper that handed the visitors a surprise lead early in the game. The Poland international looked well placed to deal with David O'Brien's long pass forward, but he completely mis-timed his attempted clearance, allowing McMenamin to knock the ball into an empty net. Boy did we enjoy the next 20 minutes leading the game.
Celtic continued to stutter when striker McDonald drove wide of the target and Brown headed a Shunsuke Nakamura free kick into the side-netting. McDonald had another shot that bounced off Jim Lauchlan's head before McGeady fired into the arms of former Parkhead keeper Rab Douglas from the rebound. The home side's increasing pressure paid off when the energetic Brown drove down the left and into the Dundee box before pulling the ball back to McDonald.
The Australian mis-hit his shot from 14 yards, but the ball ricocheted off several Dundee defenders to land in front of Brown, who stroked it home from close range. With the interval looming, McGeady eased the home fans' nerves when he cut in from the left and curled a wonderful shot from the edge of the box high past Douglas. A poor goal to give away..giving McGeady too much room and letting him cut inside.Celtic were more relaxed after the break and McGeady had another effort from 20 yards tipped over the bar by Douglas. Dundee were seldom seen as an attacking force, but McMenamin flashed a drive from 20 yards past the post on the hour mark to indicate a threat. Douglas was required to pull off a fine save from Vennegoor of Hesselink's drive after the Dutchman had been put through by Nakamura's incisive pass. McDonald then messed up another chance when he chipped over the crossbar from the edge of the box after neatly turning Lauchlan. Then in the last minute Boruc dropped the ball in his 6 yard box, but Antoine-Curier was on the wrong side. Time run out and we were out of the Scottish Cup.

Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Lauchlan, McKeown, Malone, Shinnie (Antoine-Curier 78), Cowan (Benedictus 90), Posniak (McHale 68), O'Brien, Daquin, McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Roy, Williams.
Att: 23,070
Ref: C Murray

It was a good day out in Glasgow, game wise the Dundee players gave their all , and could not ask for more. The fans were great and backed the team non stop.I would have given Antoine-Curier more time..at least the last 25minutes. Also pity about the size of the home support.

Interview with Jocky Scott below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7822370.stm

Dundee 1 Dunfermline Ath 0, Dens Park, Irn Bru First Division, 03/January/09.

DUNDEE gave their promotions cances a boost with a hard fought victory at Dens against Dunfermline. The Pars knew that, with their promotion rivals' match frozen off, they could cut the gap at the head of the table to only two points, but despite dominating possession could not see the game out. They did not deserve to lose, but didn't look like title winners – and left Dundee with nothing after Eric Paton's stunning free kick won the match. Despite enjoying the better of the play the visitors found Rab Douglas, the home keeper, in miserly form. Douglas saved well from Stephen Glass after 12 minutes, diving low to his left to block the long-range shot. He bettered that effort 60 seconds later, though, with a fine diving save after Andy Kirk met a Greg Ross delivery yards from goal. Dundee gradually emerged as an attacking force, with dead balls whipped in by Andrew Shinnie their most potent source. He played in an excellent free kick on 24 minutes but the Dark Blues had nobody willing to attack the ball. Given the lack of cutting edge for Dundee, it seemed likely that a dead ball would be their best chance of scoring and so it proved on 67 minutes. With Shinnie fouled on the edge of the box by Steven Bell, Dundee had a free-kick 20 yards out which Paton flicked over the wall and beyond Paul Gallacher into the top corner. The hosts should have doubled their lead minutes later when Freddy Daquin raced through on goal but he pulled his shot embarrassingly wide. And Dundee could have extended their lead when Colin McMenamin crashed the ball off Gallacher's left-hand post after a low cross from Freddie Daquin. Dunfermline did force a few corners near the end, but we survived it. God know how the ref added 6 minutes injury time!!

Dundee: Douglas, Cowan, Lauchlan, McKeown, Malone, Daquin, Posniak (Antoine-Curier 54), Shinnie, Paton, O'Brien, McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Roy, Benedictus, McHale, Williams.
Att: 5,033
Ref: A Law

MoM goes to Eddie Malone, his best game for a while, also Antoine-Curier did well well when he came on, I hope he plays on Saturday against Celtic, alongside McMenamin. Be positive Dundee