Friday, October 30, 2009

Latest News From Dens Park...

Dundee’s Maros Klimpl will undergo knee surgery to sort out a wee problem. It is a blow to the team but we should have enough cover for the midfield, with Colin Cameron fit again. Also going under the knife is defender David Cowan and the groin injury victim is facing a lengthy rehab. Dundee will likely try and sign a centre half now. With a few rumours going about the pubs after the Rangers game.

Dundee 1 Rangers 3, Dens Park, Cis Cup 1/4 Final, 27/October/09

Dundee made two changes to the team that started against Raith Rovers on Saturday. Injury ruled out the experienced Maros Klimpl, while dropping to the bench was striker Colin McMenamin. In came Gary Harkins to the midfield and Sean Higgins joined Leigh Griffiths in attack. The game kicked off and Rangers, playing in red shirts, were on the back foot after four minutes when a Harkins pass went beyond their defence, but Griffiths could not get the ball under control. Fleck sent a shot wide before Kyle Lafferty nodded on to former Dens man Novo in front of goal but there was a late flag for offside. Rangers were in the ascendancy and it took a fine save from keeper Bullock to thwart Novo after a fine low ball from Fleck. The Dundee dam looked like it would burst at any time and burst it did on 15 minutes as Fleck fired over a corner from the right and Whittaker rose to head into the net to make it 1-0. Dundee had a claim for a penalty dismissed just a minute later when midfielder Craig Forsyth went down in the box after a challenge by keeper Neil Alexander. It looked a decent shout but ref Dougie McDonald never blinked. But the Dark Blues could not be denied on 29 minutes when a wonder strike from Leigh Griffiths brought them level. After Kevin Thomson brought down Harkins, they got a freekick 20 yards out and in line with the centre of Alexander’s goal. Up stepped wee “Sparky” and his setpiece curled into the goalie’s top right- hand corner. On 36 minutes, Griffiths tied Rangers full-back Stevie Smith in knots before lashing a strike at Alexander’s near post and the keeper did well to palm the ball away. Dundee’s fine comeback earned them a round of applause on their way back out for the second period. The home side had another plea for a penalty turned down on 49 minutes when Griffiths claimed he was barged, but once again the ref said no. Griffiths was in the mood and, after dancing around more despairing tackles, he again saw Alexander thwart him at the near post. Out of the blue, the Dark Blues gifted Rangers a goal and it was ex-Ibrox man MacKenzie who was the culprit. A Whittaker long ball was floated into the area from the right on 58 minutes and there appeared to be little threat until the Dundee defender headed the ball backwards, over Bullock and in off the far post. Dundee changed things around in attack, bringing on Pat Clarke for Higgins and McMenamin for Griffiths, while Rangers introduced Steven Naismith for Beasley. McMenamin was involved quickly and got on the end of a Harkins cross from the left, but the ball flew over. It wasn’t to be Dundee’s night, though, as Rangers wrapped up their semi-final spot with a superb third goal with five minutes left on the clock. A clever chip forward from Thomson from inside his own half sent Novo flying up the left flank, and he passed to Fleck, who swept his shot past Bullock.
Dundee:Bullock, Paton, Malone, Forsyth, MacKenzie, Lauchlan, McHale, Kerr (Hart 79), Griffiths (McMenamin 72), Higgins (Clarke 69), Harkins. Subs not used:Soutar, Casement.
Att: 10,654
Ref: D McDonald.
Tough on Dundee l thought they played very well, and were really unlucky with the first two goals, as the first one Whittaker's header on off target until it hit Eric Paton's leg. A wonder strike from Leigh Griffiths, what a talent and gets better all the time. Match highligts on the link below:

Dundee 2 Raith Rovers 1, Dens Park, First Division, 24/October/09

Dundee moved to the top of the league with a hard fought victory at Dens Park. The Dundee fans won't care about the heavy rain and windy conditions. Dundee took the lead after 15 minutes when Colin McMenamin fired home from close range after a goalmouth scramble. Raith levelled three minutes later when Darren Smith slotted the ball home from Gregory Tade's accurate cross. Defender Gary MacKenzie restored Dundee's lead after being fed by Leigh Griffiths. After the break Gary Harkins, on for Griffiths, who left the field to a richly deserved standing ovation, fired in a low shot but Raith keeper David McGurn saved superbly. McGurn repeated the feat with 10 minutes remaining when he scrambled to his right to beat away Sean Higgins's low drive when the Dundee man was one on one with him. In injury time on form Tony Bullock made a wonder save to keep a Walker header out, which was heading for the top corner. The 3 points were sealed and top place was secured.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl (Harkins 71), MacKenzie, Lauchlan, McHale, Kerr, Griffiths (Higgins 83), McMenamin, Forsyth. Subs Not Used: Soutar, Casement, Clarke.
Att: 5,156
Ref: C Brown

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Morton 0 Dundee 1, Cappielow Park, First Division, 17/October/09

Dundee had to battle hard to earn a much needed win, and a great goal from inform striker Leigh Griffths sealed the points. Dundee started slowly and Morton had a few chances, we seemed happy to hit on the break with the midfield sitting a bit deep. Morton almost broke the deadlock when Tony Bullock parried Peter Weatherson's effort and Jim McAlister's follow up was blocked on the line by David Cowan. Our efforts in the first half was a Klimpl shot which just about hit the corner flag, also Leigh Griffiths had one chalked off for offside. Into the second half and Dundee have a double escape when Bullock then turned a Weatherson shot onto the post, and McGuffie had two headers saved. Dundee did have a Colin McMenamin goal chalked off for offside. It looked good from where I was sitting. Then with 13min remaining neat play on the wing and McHale floated a perfect ball over into the path of Leigh Griffths who kept his cool and lobbed the keeper from 15 yards , a true class finish.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl, MacKenzie, Cowan, Hart (Kerr 83), McHale, Griffiths (Higgins 90), McMenamin (Clarke 75), Forsyth. Subs Not Used: Cameron, Soutar.
Att: 2,217
Ref: B Winter

Ayr United 2 Dundee 2, Somerset Park, First Division, 14/October/09

Dundee threw away 2 points away at Somerset on Wednesday night, as Ayr United came back fron 2-0 down to earn a deserve point. They started well and scored a cracking goal in 13 minutes. Leigh Griffiths held off Martyn Campbell on halfway to collect a long clearance, his slipped ball inside to Sean Higgins took out two defenders and the cross-field ball found Craig Forsyth running through untracked to slot past Craig Samson.Ironically, Tony Bullock was arguably the busier keeper in the first half, making two excellent and one merely good save from a trio of thunderbolt long-range free-kicks from Ryan Stevenson, plus one snap shot from United skipper Chris Aitken. Stevenson also had a terrific volley from a Mark Roberts knock-down deflected for a corner.However, Griffiths stole the show in the opening period. His movement had the Ayr defence at sixes and sevens while he had one superb run to force Samson to save. The young Scotland B cap also linked up with Forsyth to set-up Sean Higgins at the back post, but his header was palmed away for a corner by Samson. Earlier Forsyth had given early warning of what Dundee might do with a back post headed lay-off to Gary MacKenzie, whose ninth minute effort – the match's first genuine chance – was blocked on the line.Fifteen minutes into the second half Griffiths scored his tenth goal of the season, one which at that point looked to have sealed what would have been Dundee's first win on the road in the league thus far. United left him unmarked on the left and when Gary Harkins lifted an inch-perfect ball over the home defence to him, the teenager had the simplest of tasks in running through unmarked to beat Samson at his right post.This was the visitors' first chance of the second half, hitherto since the break, United had been on top, without overly-troubling the Dundee rearguard. Their best chance had actually come from a mis-hit Ryan McGowan 20-yarder, which was deflected inches past for a corner in the 50th minute.However, Ayr never gave up and set up a fraught final 17 minutes for their visitors when they pulled a goal back in 73 minutes. Ryan Borris' deep cross was met by two Ayr players, both with the Christian name Ryan, but whether McGowan or Stevenson got the final touch is a point of some dispute. Stevenson milked the crowd's acclaim, McGowan got the congratulations from the United bench.However, there was no stopping Stevenson four minutes from time, when he rose unchallenged at the back post to head home a super overhead kicked pass from substitute David Gormley.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, MacKenzie, Cowan, Malone, Forsyth, Klimpl, Kerr, Harkins, Griffiths, Higgins (McHale 84). Subs not used: Soutar, McMenamin, Lauchlan, Clarke. Booked: Klimpl, Griffiths.
Referee: J McKendrick.
Att: 1,710.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Latest News From Dens ..

Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths is the Irn-Bru Phenomenal young player of the month for September. The 19-year-old has netted eight times for the Dark Blues since his summer transfer from Livingston. Six of those goals came last month as Griffiths went some way to paying back his £150,000 fee. The Irn-Bru award is for the best young performer during September in the three divisions of the Scottish Football League.

Dundee play Ayr United on Wednesday at Somerset Park, we look to keep our good run going.

Got My Rangers Tix


Dundee 2 Partick Thistle 0, Dens Park,First Division,10/October/09

Dundee got off to the best possible start when Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring after only four minutes when Eddie Malone picked him out with a free-kick and he trapped the ball brilliantly before poking it round goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey. He had another chance after 10 minutes when he found space at the back post, but blazed wildly over. From dominating the opening stages, Dundee dropped out of the contest for the remainder of the half as Thistle attacked them with gusto. They were fortunate to survive on 20 minutes when Buchanan cracked a volley which looked destined for the net until Maros Klimpl threw his body in the way. Then a mix-up between Bullock and David Cowan allowed Mark Corcoran to sneak in and feed Paul Cairney, but Bullock saved at the second time of asking. The Jags thought they had scored right before half-time when Donnelly found space and beat Bullock with a rising shot but unfortunately for the visitors, it cracked off the crossbar. Thistle were then incensed in the final minute of the half when referee Crawford Allan denied them a penalty when Buchanan was felled in the box. Dundee took only three minutes to go further in front though, as Partick switched off to Gary Harkins danger and left him too much space. The former Jags midfielder needed no second invitation to blast a 20-yard shot beyond Tuffey. Despite being two goals down, the Jags continued to dominate for long spells and were denied a further three times by Bullock, who saved from substitute Erskine twice and then from Donnelly late in the game.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl, MacKenzie, Cowan, Hart (McHale 82), Kerr, Griffiths (McMenamin 75), Higgins (Clarke 75), Harkins. Subs Not Used: Soutar, Casement.
Att:
Ref:
C Allan
A great 3 points for the club, and they thank the defence today, with Tony Bullock and Dave Cowan both outstanding. Bully had 3 great stops, and it was good to hear the Dundee fans singing his name. We dug deep for this result and signing Maros Klimpl has been so vital, as he breaks up so many moves.

http://www.ptfc.co.uk/media/video/match_highlights/2009-2010/1010_dundee

Friday, October 09, 2009

Latest From Dens Park...

Dundee play Partick Th tomorrow in what should be a good game, bonus for the Dee is Colin McMenamin might be even on the bench. He has started training again, and as long as he suffers no reaction. Manager Jocky Scott has had them in for extra shooting practice, after missing a few against Annan Ath last Sunday.

Dundee's Jocky Scott is the Irn-Bru Phenomenal First Division manager of the month for September. The 61-year-old, in his third stint at the helm at Dens Park, endured a rocky start to the season.However, the Dark Blues rallied to win four of their five matches last month.
Scott engineered league wins over Dunfermline and Ross County as well as dumping Aberdeen out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.
Tickets for the Cis Cup tie against Rangers have been selling well, with 3,000 being sold in the last 4 days. Tickets for The Alba Cup Final will go on sale at the end of the month. Dundee are getting 6,300 for the game.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Dundee 3 Annan Ath 0, Dens Park, Alba Cup Semi Final,04/October/09

Dundee booked their place in the Alba Challenge Cup final with a convincing win over Annan Athletic. Sean Higgins broke the deadlock with a scrappy strike eight minutes before the break at Dens Park. We missed a few chances but added a second through Pat Clark after good work by Higgins. Craig Forsyth pounced on poor Annan defending in the 70th minute to fire home the third from close range with a cool finish to seal victory. so we will play Inverness Caley Thistle in the final on 22nd of November to be played at McDiarmid Park.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Dundee 2 Ross County 0, Dens Park, First Division, 26/Sept/09.

In what was a vital game result wise..Dundee managed to gain all 3 points. Football terms it was pretty dire stuff. But Dundee won 2-0 so can't complain too much. The opening goal came on the hour mark courtesy of a blunder by County goalkeeper Michael McGovern, who came to collect a Gary Harkins corner but missed the ball entirely. It bounced off Danny Moore before falling for Leigh Griffiths to nod into the net from six yards. He got his second on 77mins when he rounded the County keeper to finish from a tight angle, a bit of class from the young striker. He was put through by a wonderful pass from Pat Clarke, who has impressed me so far coming on from the bench. So another vital 3 points and puts us back up amongst the league leaders.
Dundee: Bullock, Paton, Malone, Klimpl, MacKenzie, Cowan, Forsyth, Kerr, Griffiths (McHale 90), Higgins (Clarke 70), Harkins (Hart 85).Subs Not Used: Souter, Caseman.
Att: 4,682
Ref: David Somers

Latest From Dens Park

Dundee have signed former Aberdeen and Ross County goalkeeper Derek Soutar as cover until January. First choice number one Rab Douglas will miss three weeks after a calf injury forced him to leave the field during Tuesday's win over Aberdeen. The Dark Blues' other goalkeeper Tony Bullock faces a possible ban after his red card at Queen of the South in the league last weekend.

Dundee have won their appeal against the red card shown to goalkeeper Tony Bullock in last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Queen of the South in Division One. Bullock will not now be suspended for Saturday's visit of Ross County. The 37-year-old was sent off by referee Thomas Robertson for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity after a challenge on David Weatherston.

The Co-operative Insurance Cup Round 4 match between Dundee and Rangers will be played at Dens Park on Tuesday 27 October 2009 with a 7.45pm kick off. Tickets are now on sale.

Cis Cup Draw

Co-operative Insurance Cup fourth-round draw
Celtic v Hearts
Dundee v Rangers
St Johnstone v Dundee United
St Mirren v Motherwell
The ties will be played in the week commencing 26 October.