Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dundee 2 Dunfermline Ath 2, Dens Park, Division One, 23/October/10

Dundee battled back from a first half which left them 2 nil down, after Ref Dougie McDonald gave two penalties to Dunfermline in a 3 minute spell. But battle they did to the delight of the home support.

Dundee opened brightly and took the game to their hosts and in the first 30 mins created a few chances the best falling to Leigh Griffiths but his shot was just wide. Then the ref pointed to the spot after he judged Matt Lockwood had handled, a very harsh decision from the view l got. Up stepped Gibson to score with ease, then just 3 minutes later a cross into the box as the pars striker jumped with Lockwood the ball came off his arm of the luckless defender, and McDonald again pointed to the spot. Gibson scored to put the Pars up two nil, then after that in a Dundee break away, to the dismay of the home support as Higgins tried to jump for a header in the box he was held down, the ref waved away Dundee's claims. He was soundly booed off the park at half time.



Second half and Dundee started in a positive mood, and got their early break when a pass from Harkins put Griffiths clear after the pars centre half slipped, and he lifted the ball over Smith to score to put the Dees back into the game. Dundee's tails were up now and from the backing they were getting from the stands pushed Dunfermline back to defend Dundee's attacks. It was no surprise when after good play from Griffiths out wide he crossed to Higgins who headed home to level the game. As he ran towards the Derry who were going mental to celebrate. Dundee pushed forward again in search of the winner , but had to be careful of Dunfermline breakaways. But in the end it finished 2-2, a great fightback from the players today. The fans really backed the team today long may that continue. The first penalty was a joke, but i would have given the second, my gribe with the Refs just now is they have to be more consistent with their decisions.

Dundee; Douglas,Irvine, Weston, McKeown, Lockwood, Riley (Forsyth 69), O'Donnell, Adams, Harkins, Griffiths, Higgins. Subs not used; Findlay, Benedictus, Webster, McIntosh

Att; 5,636

Ref; D McDonald

Stirling Albion 1 Dundee 1, Forthbank, Division One, 16/October/10

After yesterday's events at Dens Park Dundee travelled to Stirling on league business, a very big support came through to back the Dark Blues.

Dundee came out to loud cheers from the stands, and as the game got underway they started in a very positive mood. Dundee created a few good chances Riley headed over from a good Lockwood cross, then a McKeown volley was push away for a corner by Stirling keeper Reidford. Then Riley had another good chance after he was played in by Higgins only to deny by a fine stop from Reidford. Stirling just about scored when Forsyth hit the underside of the bar.

Second half and it turned out to be a more evenly balanced contest. Griffiths did score early on but his effort was ruled offside. But it was Griffths who again was put clear from a over the top by Higgins and the young striker scored with help off the post. The Dundee fans celebrated Sparky's fine finish, next attack and Harkins had a shot saved where he should have scored. Then Griffiths had another chance but put the ball over from a good position. Then Stirling scored from a corner when Forsyth headed home leaving Douglas helpless to level the game.Then Stirling had a player sent off after the second last defender took out Griffths as he was about to race clear.

As both teams pushed forward in search for a winner, it turned into to a good contest. Higgins had a header cleared off the line, then manager Barry Smith send on Craig Forsyth for Nicky Riley and he was unlucky when he hit a post with a header. Stirling had chances as well. Final Dundee chance fell to Griffths but he knocked it wide.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood, Riley, Adams, O'Donnell, Harkins, Griffiths, Higgins (Forsyth 78).Subs Not Used - Findlay, Benedictis, Carnegie, Mcintosh.
Att: 1,578

Ref: C Thompson

Friday, October 15, 2010

Black Friday

It's a sad day for everyone connected with Dundee FC, after administrator Bryan Jackson announced the Management, Players, and Staff who would lose their jobs. I wish them all the best for the future. He also painted a bleak future if the funding is not found for the club, with Christmas time being a deadline. More on this List of Players ect  and Bryan Jackson Press Conference Statement

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Dundee 2 Morton 1, Dens Park, First Division, 02/October/10

In what has been a hard time for Dundee FC due to the threat of future of the club. The Fans backed the team, and the players dug in to grind out a result. Misun missed out due to injury with Adams moving back to centre half, with Witteveen, O'Donnell and Riley all starting.

The gamble on striker Witteveen fitness failed, and was replaced by McMenamin on 15 mins. Morton looked the better side and we had to defend well to keep them out, but against the run of play Dundee took the lead. A Griffiths shot spun high and when it came down O'Donnell was fouled for a penalty. Up stepped Matt Lockwood who scored with ease for his first goal for the club. But back came Morton and they levelled when Keans header hit the bar and Weatherstone scored from the rebound. Soon after O'Donnell hits the bar with a decent effort.
Second half and Forsyth replaces O'Donnell, to tighten up the midfield. With Morton looking dangerous on the break. But after a good move Dundee earn a corner, which Lockwood took and was headed home superbly by McMenamin to put the Dee 2-1 up. Soon after Riley is so unlucky with a overhead kick on which keeper tips onto the bar. Morton did attack , but Forsyth has stopped the threat turning into goals. Near the end Dundee go close when McMenamin cuts it back just behind Higgins and Riley when it should have been a goal. But Dundee hung on to claim the three points.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Adams, McKeown, O'Donnell (Forsyth 46), Riley, Kerr, Witteveen (McMenamin 15), Harkins, Griffiths (Higgins 80). Subs Not Used: Fox, Kuqi.
Booked: Irvine.

Att: 4,068

Ref: E Norris

Photos (C) Dundee FC

Cowdenbeath 2 Dundee 1, Central Park, First Division, 25/September/10

In what was a differcult away game at any time, but given the rumours going round just now with a unpaided tax bill, now even harder. Dundee took a decent support and it was nice and sunny for the game. Team wise Irvine replaced the injured Paton, with Kerr and Higgins instead of O'Donnell and Riley.

In the first half we struggled to get going and Cowdenbeath took the lead after bad defending , the ball broke back to the incoming Ramsay who beat Douglas with a low shot into the corner. Dundee did respond and Griffiths was unlucky when Hay touched his shot onto the post. But too many times we just hit long balls up to striker Kuqi which was pretty pointless. Worse was to follow when Fairbain scored from a 35 yard free kick, it did look like Douglas should have kept it out.

Second half and Manager Chisholm send on O'Donnell and McMenamin for Misun and Kuqi, we pushed Cowden back and created about 5 great chances with both McMenamin and Griffiths missing one on ones with the keeper. Poor poor finishing, Leigh also hit the bar when it looked he must score. Dundee did pull one back in 83 mins when Griffiths turned well in the box and smashed the ball home from 10 yards to give us hope. But Cowdenbeath did manage to hold out to claim a fine victory, they seemed happy to defend deep in the second half.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, McKeown, Misun (O'Donnell 46), Lockwood, Adams, Kerr, Harkins, Higgins (Riley 65), Kuqi (McMenamin 46), Griffiths.Subs Not Used: Fox, Forsyth.

Att: 1,154

Ref: C Charleston

Dundee 0 Raith Rovers 0, Dens Park, First Divison, 18/September/10

Dundee drew 0-0 with Raith Rovers at Dens, in which we can thank Rab Douglas who made a fabulous save from Baird's spot kick. Centre half Milan Musan made his debut after signing on a month's loan from Celtic.

In the first half we had a few chances, but Griffiths missed both of them. The first he just failed to turn the ball home at the back post, and then he was clean through but the ball got tangled up among his feet and he put the ball just wide. Then at the other end after Raith had got back into the game, Tate went down after a Adam's challenge and Ref Somners pointed to the spot, a very soft award to the disbelief of the Dundee support. But Rab Douglas made a brilliant stop, in Dundee's next move Harkins fired over when he should have done better.
Second half and not many too chances were created, with both side untroubled with Dundee hitting too many long balls up to the strikers, we need to do better midfield wise. So a draw was fair in the end.


Dundee: Douglas, Paton, McKeown, Misun, Lockwood, Riley (Higgins 76), Adams, O'Donnell (Forsyth 69), Harkins, Kuqi (McMenamin 58), Griffiths. Subs Not Used: Fox, Irvine.
Att: 4,532

Ref: D Somers