Latest From Dens Park...............

Colin Cameron and Darren Young are back in training, and will be in the squad which travels to Dingwall on Friday night. Missing will be on loan pair Andrew Shinnie and Georgio Efrem who are both away on international duty.
Dundee have appointed one of Scotland’s richest and most successful business men as a new director at Dens Park. Calum Melville who, along with his brother Stuart, is reported to be worth in the region of £100 million and who has worked extensively in the oil industry, has joined the board. The new man is married with three children and based in Aberdeen, and Dundee see him as bringing a wealth of business experience to the board. He’s been involved in a string of successful business ventures over the past 20 years, the most recent being the sale of gtc group, in which he and his brother held a 90% stake, to Cosalt PLC in 2007. Melville is the managing director of Cosalt Offshore and intends to continue in this role as well as pursuing several ongoing business interests in commercial property, residential property, hotels and the oil and gas service sector.

Partick Th 1 Dundee 1, Firhill, First Division, 22/March/09

In what was a game l missed and only seen the second half in my local pub, down seeing my Dad who has just had a hip replacement.Both sides struggled to cope with a stiff swirling wind but Partick were first to threaten when Paul Paton unleashed a long range shot which forced a diving save from Rab Douglas.At the other end an angled Mickael Antoine-Curier shot flashed wide before Thistle produced a fine move.Stephen McKeown and Lucas Akins were involved in creating space for the lively Kris Doolan whose netbound shot had Douglas diving to his left to claw the effort behind.The home side continued to dominate but Dundee delivered a sucker punch by going ahead in 37 minutes with their first shot on target. Andrew Shinnie was the provider with a neat pass to the unmarked McMenamin who calmly rolled the ball through the legs of Jonny Tuffey.The setback appeared to throw Thistle completely off their stride while the visitors grew in confidence on the restart.They could have doubled their lead when McMenamin exposed a moment's hesitation to pick out Antoine-Curier but the Gaudeloupe striker was off-balance as he shot wide.Then Andrew Shinnie's corner picked out Gary MacKenzie whose header flashed inches wide.Giorgis Efrem was next to threaten with a dipping 20 yard effort that Tuffey could only parry.Thistle refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded when Simon Storey's cross was headed home by substitute McKinlay.There was still time for Tuffey to deny Shinnie with a superb save while Doolan fired narrowly over for Partick as the game drew to a close.
Dundee: Douglas; Cowan, Malone, McHale, MacKenzie, Lauchlan (McKeown 80), Shinnie, Paton, McMenamin, Antoine-Curier, Efrem. Subs not used: Williams, O'Brien, Gilhaney, Roy Referee: D Somers
Att: 3,303.

Link below is highlights from the game..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7958324.stm

Dundee 2 Ross County 0, Dens Park, First Division, 14/March/09

If Dundee feared they were about to dropping out of the Division One title race after their midweek defeat to Queen of the South, their season received renewed hope yesterday with a crucial home victory. Jocky Scott's side swatted aside Ross County with goals from Colin McMenamin and Mickael Antoine-Curier to make up some ground on leaders St Johnstone, who again faltered. Dundee now lie seven points behind with a game in hand, so, along with just like fellow promotion candidates Partick Thistle and Livingston, will feel the door has opened again further this weekend. Although Craig Brewster caused Rab Douglas some unnecessary problems with a header early on in the game, it took until 25 minutes for the first real opportunity to be created. With the wind causing havoc to the players' attempts at crossing, it was a miracle that Andrew Shinnie was able to pick out Mickael Antoine-Curier with a free-kick but his delivery deserved better from the Frenchman, who blazed a free header over from six yards. Dundee were far more potent in an attacking sense, although Mickael Antoine-Curier blazed a free header over the and could have had a penalty on the half hour when Eddie Malone was brought down inside the area, but Mike McCurry, the referee, waved away their protests. Any ire they had about that decision was extinguished two minutes later when they took the lead, McMenamin showing great bravery to attack Eric Paton's cross from the right with a diving header into the net., gave Antoine-Curier a lesson in how it should be done and got his reward for quick thinking when the ball flew past Joe Malin. After being refused what looked a watertight penalty earlier in the game, Dundee were handed a soft-looking one right on half-time. Antoine-Curier jostled for the ball with Andy Dowie on the right-hand side of the box and seemed to just throw himself down looking for the award. McCurry was swayed this time and the striker dispatched the kick dead ball past County goalkeeper Joe Malin. County had an opportunity to pull one back on 72 minutes when Richard Hart was afforded a free header inside the area, but Douglas saved well with both hands.

Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, MacKenzie, Cowan, Shinnie, Williams, McMenamin, Antoine-Curier, Efrem. Subs Not Used: Roy, Benedictus, Posniak, Gilhaney, Deasley.
Att: 3,381
Ref: M McCurry

A great win for Dundee, they likely played better on Tuesday, but given the windy conditions I'm glad of the 3 points. The big bonus is St.Johnstone got beat so it opens it up again. We still need to take it one game at a time and keep winning.

Latest news From Dens Park...

Andrew Shinnie has been called up for the Scotland U21's, he has played very well for us lately. He will missed the away games at Ross County and Dunfermline. Giorgos Efrem has also been called up for the friendly v Georgi and will miss the Ross County game as well. Dundee had hoped that he would be excused seeing it was only a friendly. However the Cyprus FA are standing firm.

Dundee 2 Queen of the South 3, Dens Park. First Division, 10/March/09

Dundee had made an ultra positive start against Queens, with Freddie Daquin at the heart of their attempts to establish an early lead. The Frenchman went close with a volley from the edge of the area then turned provider for Giorgos Efrem with a smart cutback. Efrem left Lee Robinson rooted to the spot as he turned the ball goalwards at pace, but it cannoned back off the inside of the upright and, when the Cypriot winger sought to net the rebound, his powerful drive hit Antoine-Curier and flew to safety. Unfortunately, neither Daquin nor the Dark Blues could sustain that level of performance and as both faded QoS started to find their way. The visitors looked unfortunate to be denied a penalty when David Cowan seemed to block a Stephen Dobbie shot with his hands. But they struck with three minutes of the first-half remaining when Barry Wilson was able to meet, unchallenged, a high hanging Paul Burns cross to direct a volley across Rab Douglas and in at the far post. Dundee levelled on 54 minutes thanks to a superb strike from Antoine-Curier who had three defenders in close attendance as he received the ball on the 18 yard line. However, he patiently worked enough of an opening to let loose a powerful shot that Robinson got a hand to but couldn’t keep out. Nine minutes later, though, the home side conceded another soft goal—Dobbie being allowed to burst in from their left flank and somehow drill the ball into the far corner from an unlikely angle. Another quality finish from Antoine-Curier on 68 minutes, surging into the box, drawing Robinson and slotting the ball away, hauled the home side back into things. With 15 minutes left, Dundee got caught out again by more weak defending. Douglas pulled off a terrific save, turning a netbound long-range Dobbie volley over the bar, although from the resulting Ryan McCann corner Martyn Lancaster rose almost unchallenged to power in a header that Douglas touched onto the post but couldn’t keep out.
Attendance—3757
Dundee—Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, Mackenzie (Benedictus 67), Cowan, Shinnie, Daquin (Gilhaney 85), McMenamin, Antoine-Curier, Efrem. Subs not used—Williams, Deasley, Roy.
Referee—John Mckendrick.

A very poor result for our promotion push, we missed Colin Cameron a lot. But overall we played well. But we lost silly soft goals, we must now win every game now to have any chance.

St.Johnstone 0 Dundee 0, McDiarmid Park, First Division, 28/February/09.

Dundee failed to break down St.Johnstone on Saturday, the fans were asked to come early and I was in the ground at 14:15. Which was a bit of a shock for me,but seeing I was working that night it was understandable. In what was a good start by Dundee forcing a few corners but nothing came of them. The ball was up in the air too much as both teams cancelled each other out. McMenamin could have scored from a Antoine-Curier cross, but the ball was too behind him and saints cleared. Only other note was a Andrew Shinnie shot which just went over Main's cross bar. Saints had chances as well, but thought Milne took a dive in the box. My view is the ref was right. The second half was more of the same with few chances, and nobody able to get on the end of crosses and corners. The only save Main had was a shot by Shinnie which was deflected towards the goal, which he pushed away for a corner. So it ended 0-0 which was about fair overall.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale, MacKenzie, Cowan, Shinnie, Cameron, McMenamin, Antoine-Curier, Efrem. Subs Not Used: Roy, Lauchlan, Posniak, Daquin, Gilhaney.
Att: 7,238
Ref: S Conroy
In what was a poor game the only bonus was that we did not get beat, with Partick Th winning at least it puts pressue on St.Johnstone. Special word for the Dundee fans who turned up in great numbers....pity we could not get that winning goal.