Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Dundee 3 Aberdeen 2, Dens Park, Cis Cup, 22/September/09

Aberdeen started the game brightly, and forced Dundee back. We struggled in the first 20 mins or so. But started to come into and were knocking the ball about nicely. Rab Douglas in the Dundee goal had a busy enough time dealing with crosses and having punched one clear from another Aberdeen corner in the 25th minute, he landed awkwardly and immediately signalled to his bench and was replaced by Tony Bullock.It was the only real blow to Dundee in that opening 45 minutes that saw two penalty claims waved aside by the referee of the moment, Steve Conroy. The first was in the ninth minute when Craig Forsyth went down in the box, the second, at the other end, in the 31st minute, when Peter Pawlett crumbled when being challenged by David Cowan.Aberdeen had not conceded a goal since losing to Celtic over a month ago but Dundee ended that run, making the most of a great delivery as well as some poor Aberdeen defending. Gary Harkins' 39th minute corner was whipped across to the back post and Eddie Malone was able to rise well above his markers to head the ball down and past Jamie Langfield in the visitors' goal.Dundee were beginning to get under Aberdeen's skin but if they had been itching to get a second goal before the interval, they had a full-blown rash of chances after it. Their pace and movement were a constant trauma for the SPL defence and having been breached once, they looked more and more likely to cave again. The second half wasn't even 60 seconds old when Charlie Mulgrew and Langfield had to combine to smother the threat posed by McMenamin, while Harkins free-kick two minutes later was only just off target.It seemed that every Dundee pass out of midfield was slicing open the Aberdeen rearguard and willing runners such as McMenamin, Sean Higgins and Forsyth were delighted to get on the receiving end. McMenamin did exactly that in the 49th minute but with three Aberdeen defenders chasing in his wake and Langfield diving at his feet, he flicked the ball just wide of the post.The second goal did come in the 55th minute, though. Harkins ball cut through the defence and while McMenamin's first touch was poor, he showed the presence of mind to dink a cheeky back heel across the area to Forsyth and he drilled it into the roof of the net.McGhee reacted immediately, sending on both Chris Maguire and Michael Paton and it soon paid off. The latter got a goal back in the 62nd minute, sneaking the ball in at the near post from Mulgrew's corner and he added a second from a Miller lay-off with 88 minutes gone to take the match to extra time. I was a wee bit worried about extra-time, but we settle down and played some great football. And young striker Leigh Griffiths scored the winner, when he hit a right-footed screamer on the turn, after Jamie langfield dropped a cross. A great goal and Dundee went into the second period full of confiedence. Apart from one good save Tony Bullock had little to do, and Griffiths could have scored again with a header which skimmed the bar. Final whistle and we look forward to the 1/4 tie hopefully a home tie.
Dundee: Douglas (Bullock 26), Paton, MacKenzie, Cowan, Malone, Forsyth, Klimpl, Kerr, Higgins (Griffiths 74), McMenamin (Clarke 98), Harkins. Subs not used: Casement, McHale.
Interview with Dundee manager Jocky Scott:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8270086.stm

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Queen of the South 2 Dundee 0, Palmerstone Park, First Division,19/September/09.

Dundee fell to their first League defeat of the season, they gave away a penalty after only 5 mins, when Tony Bulloch was shown a red card for pulling down David Weatherston and Tosh blazed the spot kick beyond substitute Rab Douglas. Dundee battlre away and had three great chances, with Leigh Griffiths and Craig Forsyth missing one on ones with the keeper. But Queens sealed the game when Holmes netted from close range. Despite the defeat this was a good enough performance to pick up points.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, MacKenzie, Cowan, Klimpl, McHale (Forsyth 72), Cameron (Douglas 5), Harkins, Griffiths (Higgins 61), McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Casement, Kerr.
Att: 2,875
Ref: T Robertson

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Latest From Dens Park

It looks like Rab Douglas will be fully fit for the trip to Dunfries on Saturday. Reports suggest that he will go back in to the first team. Tony Bulloch as done really well in the last two games, and proves to be really good backup. But the decision is now left to Jocky Scott who gets the nod on Saturday. Meanwhile it was good that DFC fans raised money last Sunday on the MacMillan zipline, I would have done it but again work came in the way. Read more from the link below:
http://www.thedees.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=2894

Dundee 1 Dunfermline Ath 0, Dens Park, First Division, 12/Sep/09

A 38th-minute penalty from Gary Harkins proved enough for Dundee as they gained a much-needed victory over the Pars. The visitors gave away a needless penalty when goalkeeper Greg Fleming dived in on Colin McMenamin. Harkins kept a cool head, slotting the spot-kick past Fleming, to claim 3 vital points. Dundee's win lifts them back into second place but the First Division favourites failed to put on a convincing performance.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl (Cameron 87), MacKenzie, Lauchlan (Cowan 72), McHale, Kerr, Griffiths (Higgins 85), McMenamin, Harkins.Subs Not Used: Douglas, Clarke.
Att: 5,326
Ref: Craig Thomson
I missed the last two games, so can't say how we played, but by reports says that we defended well, and good Gary McKenzie had a good game. As it will be a much needed boost.

Stirling Albion 1 Dundee 2, Forthbank Stadium, Alba Cup 1/4 Final,

Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths scored twice as the First Division side sealed a place in the Alba Cup semi finals. The visitors went ahead on 10 minutes when Griffiths benefited from a lucky ricochet, ran through and shot past Stirling Albion keeper Scott Christie. Griffiths scored his second after 26 minutes when he tucked away Richie Hart's cut-back from the right wing.
Albion pinned Dundee back after the break but could only manage a last-minute penalty from Stewart Devine.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl, MacKenzie (Forsyth 65), Benedictus (Lauchlan 25), Hart (Clarke 85), Kerr, McMenamin, Griffiths, Harkins. Subs Not Used: Geddes, Young.
Att: 1,277

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Dundee Sign Maros Klimpl ..

Dundee have signed Slovakian international Maros Klimpl on a three-year deal. The 28-year-old spent last season on loan with Motherwell from Danish club Danish club FC Midtjylland. He has since been released from the final year of his Midtjylland contract and had been on trial at Cardiff City. Klimpl arrived at Motherwell as a centre-half but was converted to a holding midfield player and impressed in the role for the Steelmen. Maros also revealed that ex-dee Dusan Vrto had spoken well of the club, and so made his mind up to sign for the club.



Meanwhile Dundee striker Mickael Antoine-Curier has went on loan to Hamilton Accies until 1st of January 2010, he has fallen down the pecking order at Dens Park lately. Dundee will play Aberdeen in the next round of the Cis Cup, the game at Dens will be played on either 22/23 of September.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Airdrie United 1 Dundee 1,Excelsior Stadium, First Division, 29/August/09

Dundee again dropped 2 points for the third game in a row, but at least we did not get beat. I missed the game due to work so can only go by reports, to the game Dundee took the lead in 36 mins when Colin McMenamin picked up possession in midfield and was allowed to run forward before sending an unstoppable 20-yard shot high into Stephen Robertson's top right-hand corner.Airdrie hit back before the break when Darren Smith's cross was deflected into his own net by Jim Lauchlan.Play grew scrappy on the restart as Dundee struggled to break down a dogged Diamonds defence. Leigh Griffiths went close to finding a winner for the visitors when he forced a fine diving stop by Robertson. But Airdrie might have snatched it at the death when Smith's angled shot was saved by Tony Bullock.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, McHale, Benedictus, Lauchlan, Cameron (Hart 68), Kerr, McMenamin, Griffiths (Higgins 76), Harkins. Subs Not Used: MacKenzie, Forsyth, Geddes.
Att: 1,516
Ref: S Nicholls