Sunday, January 04, 2009

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