Dundee made two changes to the team that started against Raith Rovers on Saturday. Injury ruled out the experienced Mar
os 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.
os 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.
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:
