Dundee lost 2-1 at Parkhead on Saturday going by reports from the papers and what l have seen in highlights the team played well and had two great chances when on another day both Stewart and Konrad would have scored. Also Clarkson was unlucky when his chip was headed of the line. Celtic scored right on half-time when Stokes headed home, typical in games like this.
Second half and Guidetti scored from 12 yards after a quick break away, Dundee still kept their heads up and McPake was unlucky for his header ruled out for off side, but soon after David Clarkson scored after good link up play from Stewart and Irvine. Dundee kept at it and both Stewart and Harkins went close with good efforts at goal. Celtic hit the post late on and Dundee denied a penalty for handball was not given. But the game ended 2-1 to the home side, but Paul Hartley can take a lot of positives from the way Dundee played football.
Dundee: Bain, McGinn, McPake, Konrad, Irvine, Thomson (Ferry 72), McGowan, McAlister, Harkins (Tankulic 80), Stewart (Boyle 68), Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Schenk, Dyer, McBride and Roberts.
Referee: K Clancy
Att: 43,787
It was good to see that Dundee had a good support at Parkhead on Saturday, next up is the Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen at Dens which is live on BBC 1 kicking off at 12:15pm.
Dundee drew 1-1 with St Johnstone in a game spoiled by the Referee's performance, he had a big decision to make in the opening minutes when the Saints keeper fouled Clarkson in the box, but he booked the striker for diving when it looked like a penalty to Dundee and then the saints keeper would have had to be shown the red card. Sadly for the game the Referee's performance got worse as the game went on and that is for the both sides.
Dundee had chances with Boyle and Clarkson unlucky not to score with good efforts, but just before the break good play from Stewart and he found David Clarkson in the six yard area and he netted his 6th goal for the club. Just after that St Johnstone should have had a penalty when Fraser was pulled back in the box but the Referee waved away the appealing saints players.
Second half and St Johnstone started to push Dundee back and it was no surprise when they levelled the game from the penalty spot after Graham had been adjudged to be fouled by McPake it looked very soft one, but the striker took it himself to make the score 1-1.
Both teams had chances with Dundee coming back into the game in the last 10 minutes with McPake nearly scoring with a back post header, Greg Stewart was tripped in the box but no whistle from the Referee.
It ended 1-1 fair on the state of play with Dundee the better side in the first half and St Johnstone were the better side in the second half. The Referee had a day to forget and hopefully he will be better the next time he is at Dens Park.
Dundee: Bain, McGinn, McPake, Konrad, Irvine, McGowan, McAlister, Boyle (Thomson 67), Harkins, Stewart, Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Schenk, Black, Dyer, McBride, Davidson and Roberts.
Referee: B Madden
Att: 6,931
Nicky Riley has left the club by mutual consent the winger has been on loan at Peterhead and he goes my best wishes. he had been at the club since 2010 and played his part in the dee-fiant season and last season getting the club back up to the top league.
Cammy Kerr has joined Peterhead on a month long loan deal, it will give the young defender much needed games.
Dundee will play Aberdeen at home in the 4th Round of The William Hill Scottish Cup, the game should be played on Saturday the 29th of November. It will also depend if it will be shown on TV, but with five all Premier teams facing each other, and with Celtic playing Hearts it is unlikely the game will be picked.
Dundee came away from Rugby Park with three massive points last Saturday which put them 6th in the league. Another fine performance winning 3-1 at a pretty difficult venue at the best of time.
Manager Paul Hartley handed a starting place to Martin Boyle in place of Kevin McBride so it looked like Dundee would attack Killie from the start. But it was the home side that stated better with a few efforts on goal which did not trouble Bain in the Dundee goal. Dundee looked dangerous on the break and midway trough the half Bole got past the full back as he seen sight of the goal he smashed the ball against the post with Samson the Killie goalie was well beaten. Soon after Boyle had a great chance but again he blasted the ball with power which forced Samson to tip the ball over the ball. But right on half-time Dundee took the lead with a great flowing move from their own box the ball was moved fast up to Harkins who passed to Clarkson who found Greg Stewart inside the box, and the young striker finished it superbly to put the Dark Blues ahead at the break.
Second half and both team had a go at each other, but it was Dundee who went 2-0 up on 51 minutes a good break from Harkins who then passed to David Clarkson who drilled a shot home to score in his 5th consecutive game for the club. This opened play up more with Killie having to attack to get into the game with Dundee were happy to hit on the break. Harkins was unlucky not to score but his shot was blocked on the line. But Killie scored with 15 minutes to go when Eremenko turned well in the six yard box and knocked the ball past Bain to score. But as Killie was pushing to level the game Craig Samson came up for a corner Dundee managed to clear the ball and found Greg Stewart around the half way line with Samson in no mans land the keeper tried to block him with a sliding tackle, the young striker got back him and another defender made his way into the box where his first shot was blocked. Luckily it cam back to Greg who stepped inside and curled a beauty into the top corner to send the 1,000 Dundee fans wild with delight.
It sealed another three points and it proved that we can play nice football and what a signing David Clarkson has been who has linked up so well with young Greg Stewart who has stepped up from part time football and looks a great prospect.
Had a great day out with the Andy Penman Fife Dark Blues it was well worth the trip down to Rugby Park. Next up is St Johnstone at Dens next Saturday.
Dundee: Bain, Irvine, Konrad, McPake, McGinn, McAlister, Harkins (Roberts 89), McGowan, Stewart, Clarkson (Thomson 82), Boyle. Subs Not Used: Schenk, Davidson, McBride, Kerr, and Dyer.
Ref: G Aitken
Att: 4,481
Looking forward to my trip down to Kilmarnock today with The Andy Penman Fife Dark Blues. l have not been at Rugby Park for a league game since April 2005. I missed the last Premier League games a couple of seasons ago due to work although l did make the Scottish Cup replay the season before.
Team news both Kevin Thomson and Willie Dyer have trained all week and will be in the squad, Luka Tankulic, Peter MacDonald, Simon Ferry and Kyle Letheren are all out injured, and Craig Wighton is struggling with a injury picked up in the Unders 20's game against Aberdeen.
The players trained at Forfar Ath on Thursday as the loons have the same artificial pitch as Kilmarnock so they have prepared for the game in the right manner.
