Monday, February 28, 2011

Dundee 1 Morton 1, Dens Park, Division One, 26/February/11

Dundee started with the same team that won at Raith on Tuesday night. No place in the squad for Neil McCann. Dundee started brightly and forced Morton back the first real chance fell to Higgins but his shot was high and wide of the target. Morton looked dangerous on the break and Rab Douglas had to look sharp to make a good diving save. The goal did come on 25 mins when a good one-two from Gary Harkins fell nicely to Sean Higgins and the inform striker finished with a low drive to give the Dark Blues the lead. Dundee pushed for a second and Nicky Riley done well to get a shot in which the ton keeper saved well, but the ball would not fall right for the winger. Both teams attacked but no more scoring in a even kind of half.

Second half and again Dundee push forward with Forsyth shooting wide from a good position, back came Morton and exdee Derek Lyle forced Douglas into a good save. Morton were coming into the game now and they did level matters when after some slack defensive play lead to a corner it was headed clear only to be played back in to fall kindly to Jenkin's who shot home pass the helpless Douglas from six yards.

That was that it ended 1-1 each, a draw was fair Dundee looked a bit tired and flat today. But they have kept their unbeaten run going and we Dundee fans are happy with the efforts they have put in.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood, Riley, O’Donnell, Robertson, Forsyth, Harkins, Higgins. Unused subs: Gibson (gk), Stewart, Benedictus, Rennie, Bartlett

Ref: W Collum

Att: 4,769

Thursday, February 24, 2011

News From Dens Park

Neil McCann is likely to miss out this weekend due to a slight knock, he can play once more as a trialist. Craig Robertson is okay to feature again thanks to his club Lochee United.

Raith Rovers 1 Dundee 2, Starks Park, Division One, 22/February/11

Dundee produced another fine result on Tuesday night defeating Raith Rovers 2-1 at Starks Park. What l can gather from reports it was a well deserved win, with Dundee well on top throught out the game. They took the lead on 33 mins when a forward run from Forsyth who fed Sean Higgins and he slipped the under McNeill to score. Second half and Rovers drew level when Walker netted from a well taken free kick. But four minutes later and Dundee got what proved to be the winner, Gary Harkins moved forward and his pass let Forsyth get to the byeline his cross was low and hard it hit a raith defender's hand but Sean Higgins flicked the ball home before Ref Brines could point to the spot. Craig Robertson did play from the start and by reports he done really well.

So another great result and l will look forward to seeing the highlights on DFC.TV. It's great being a Dundee fan just now at work where they can't say a thing...Long may it continue.

News From Dens Park...

Dundee play league leaders Raith Rovers at Starks Park on Tuesday night, it looks like Neil McCann will miss it due to a leg strain. A bonus for Dundee is Lochee United letting Craig Robertson join the Dark Blues for three games. Craig is a massive DFC fan who gave the club much of his testimonial match fund which was a massive gesture. Missing will be suspended Gary Irvine with Johnthon Stewart set to replace him. I will miss the game due to work.




Photo(C) of Lochee United

Stirling Albion 0 Dundee 1, Forthbank, Division One,19/February/11

Dundee started the game at Forthbank on Saturday with Neil McCann up front. The first half was a even affair with both teams playing some neat football. The first real chance fell to Stirling a Smith header was heading in, but Riley had time to kick it off the line to clear the danger. Dundee then went up the park to open the scoring when good wing play set up Matt Lockwood's who crossed a great ball in to Sean Higgins who scored with a header. That made the big Dundee support back their team even more. Back came Stirling and from a free kick Rab Douglas produced a great one handed save to deny Aitken. So that was the half time score, so far so good. The only down point was the soft booking of McKeown and Weston they seemed very soft to me.


Second half now and much the same vein Dundee looking comfy and likely to add to their lead, but after 62 mins a two footed tackle from defender Gary Irvine gave Ref Brian Winter no option but to sent him off. Straight away Manager Barry Smith took off Neil McCann off to be replaced by Jonathan Stewart. Stirling came forward as Dundee's backs were now to the wall, they defended well with everyone tracking back to cover. Best chance fell to Doyle who's curling shot was well saved by Rab Douglas. So a big relief at full time another amazing result for this team who's work rate and commitment is the best I have seen for years. So well done lads also the big Dundee support who backed the team superbly.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood, Riley, O’Donnell, Harkins, Forsyth, Higgins, McCann (Stewart 63). Unused subs: Gibson (gk), Rennie, Bartlett, Smith


Att: 2,206

Ref: B. Winters

News From Dens Park

Neil McCann may feature again at Stirling on Saturday, he can play three games as a trialist. Rumour has it that ex-Barnet striker Jake Hyde is at dens this week.

Dundee 2 Raith Rovers 1, Dens Park, Division One, 12/February/11


Dundee came back from 1-0 down to snatch the 3 points against league leaders Raith Rovers at Dens Park this afternoon. In a evenly contested first half saw both teams creat chances, Dundee's best were from a neat pass from Harkins put O'Donnell through but keeper McNeil saved well, and later a Harkins shot which tested the keeper once more. Raith looked dangerous and came close a few times.


Second half and Raith took control of the game and pushed Dundee back. It was no surprize when they scored when Murray headed home from a corner, they went for the killer second goal and came close a few times. With good defending kept them out. Dundee changed things and Neil McCann came on to replace Stewart and play up front, with Harkins moving back to midfield. It did the trick as Dundee looked more comfy. Craig McKeown then came close with a fierce low drive from 25 yards that shaved the outside of the post. Raith looked comfy and made changes to maybe sit on what they had.

Then with 6-7 minutes to go Dundee won a freekick about 30 yards out up stepped captain Gary Harkins to score with a wonder strike right in the top corner to level the match at 1-1 to send the Dundee fans wild. This really changed the flow of the game as Dundee pushed for the winner, and it came deep into injury time when after a pass back from a Raith player to his keeper was punished. From it Rovers cleared to give away a corner which Forsyth took, it was cleared as far as Lockwood who's high cross was headed down by Forsyth to Neil McCann who spun to hook the ball high towards the goal, it dipped enought to go just under the bar and into the net to send Dens Park crazy. Neil McCann ran towards the south enclosure to celebrate, and was mobbed by his team mates.


Raith had only time to kick off before the the final whistle was blown, what a feeling that was with Dundee fans still singing dancing it was a great comeback to keep our home record going.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood, Riley, Stewart, (McCann 57), O’Donnell, Forsyth, Higgins, Harkins. Unused subs: Gibson, Smith, Rennie, Bartlett

Ref: G Salmond

Att: 5,105

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Queen of the South 1 Dundee 2, Palmerstone Park, Division One, 05/February/11


Dundee kept their unbeaten run of league games going with a hard fought win at Palmerstone home of Queen of the South on Saturday, never a good place for Dundee in the past 25 years or so. They did not play at their best , but took their chances and defended well.


In the first half most of the play was from Queens who came close a few times, Dundee's first chance came when Matt Lockwood took a free kick but Hutton was equal to it saving well. Then against the run of play Dundee scored good play on the wing and Tom Brighton's cross fell to Harkins who's shot was blocked, the ball fell to Craig Forsyth who drilled the ball home to give Dundee the lead. Queens had a chance on half time but it was well cleared.
Second half and much the same vein with Queens attacking and Dundee defending well. Johnston tested Douglas with a curling shot but Rab held on well to make a good save, minutes later and Forsyth hit the post after Riley had picked him out with a cross. A minute later and Queens were level when McGuffie headed home a Johnston cross to give Douglas no chance. Dundee then made a change with trialist Greacen replacing Jonny Stewart. Keeping the 4-4-2 formation Rhys Weston moved into central midfield. It proved successful as Greacen won most long balls Queens put in, and Dundee scored again soon after and it proved to be the winner. Good play from Nicky Riley and when a shot was blocked and spun high in the air he jumped to win the header which fell to Sean Higgins who's bicycle kick ended up in the net with Hutton stunned, the keeper did not even move. Wild celebration's followed from the Dundee fans who's long wait for a win here was about to happen.

Dundee held on to claim three more vital points and with Stirling losing 3-1 at home to Raith it moved the Dark Blues off the bottom of the league. So happy Dundee fans heading home tonight.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Riley, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood, Forsyth, Harkins, Stewart (Greacen 68), Brighton, Higgins. Subs Not Used: Gibson, Rennie, Bartlett, Webster.

Att: 2,006


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Dundee 1 Falkirk 0, Dens Park,

More to follow...............