Dundee 1, Inverness Caley Th 1, Dens Park, Ladbrokes Premiership, 29-August-2015

Dundee manager Paul Hartley made several changes Thomson, Low and Irvine coming in for Holt, Etxabeguren, and the suspended Harkins. Dundee started the game well with some neat passing, but it was Caley who had the first chance when  Mbuyi-Mutumbo headed wide. Then a wee bit later Scott Bain made a good diving save from a shot from long range. Dundee did have a lot of the ball but never forced a save from the Caley Th keeper.

Second half and Dundee started in more of a positive manner with McGowan unlucky with a long range effort, but it was the visitors who took the lead Mbuyi-Mutumbo broke into the box Konrad got a tackle in but the ball fell kindly for Raven who curled the ball home for a well taken goal, Dundee attacked more but seemed too slow and not direct enough to trouble the Caley Th defence. Christie could have finished the game but shot wide when in a good position. Meggatt came on for the injured Konrad. Dundee put Carreiro on for Gary Irvine to try and grab something from the game, with seven minutes to go Dundee were awarded a penalty when Divine handled a Stewart cross, it should have been a straight red as Hemming might have scored otherwise. Greg Stewart took the spot-kick but missed has his shot hit the keeper. A blow for Dundee but minutes later McGowan should have scored but somehow missed a open goal from 2 yards out.Mbuyi-Mutumbo was sent off for a bad tackle on Ross.  But deep into injury time a long ball from McGinn fell nicely for Kane Hemmings to score to give the Dark Blues a share of the spoils.

Dundee deserved a point today, my thinking is they need a direct winger and a big centre forward just a out and out striker. They are too slow in the final third. Paul Hartley has until Tuesday night to get some players in.

Dundee: Bain, McGinn, Konrad (Meggatt 67), McPake, Irvine (Carreiro 74), Ross, Thomson, Low, McGowan, Stewart, Hemmings. Unused Subs: Mitchell (gk), Ferry, Gadzhalov, Curran, Holt

Ref: A. Dallas

Att:4,767

News From Dens....

Phil Roberts has left the club after his contract was paid up, rumour is Luca Tankulic is also leaving, both have talent but have wasted their time at Dens  Park.

Young Defender Andy Black has joined Forfar Ath on loan until January, it will give him first team games which will help to develop his progress at the club.

More Dunfermline Photos.....

Dunfermline Ath 3, Dundee 1, East End Park, League Cup Second Round, 25-August-15

Dundee were sent crashing out of the League Cup by First Division side Dunfermline Ath, Manager Paul Hartley named the same starting line-up as Aberdeen on Saturday. The home side started well and early on it was clear that this would be a difficult game for the dark blues.

The home side scored after 11 minutes when striker El-Bakhtaoui swept the ball home after a neat Pars move. They had looked dangerous from the off, and Dundee would need to improve to stay in the tie. Pars keeper made a good save from a Etxabeguren header and later on Stewart  and McPake came close to scoring, McPake's effort came off the top of the bar.

Dundee however did level the tie when Kane Hemmings finished when a low drive after a great move when McGinn header a cross into the box, Ross left it for the striker to score. All of a sudden Dundee were back in the game and McGowan was so unlucky when his pile driver was well saved by Pars keeper Murdoch. Greg Stewart then just missed with a clever curl shot. Then Holt was really unlucky with a fierce drive which flew over the bar. Hemmings also missed a couple good chances which were just wide.

But as the tie looked to be going to extra time Dunfermline Ath grabbed the lead when a Cardle shot caught out Scott Bain who let ball go under his body, it looked very soft one to lose, Dundee went for it and were unlucky a couple of times when keeper Murdoch being a real here for the Pars.

Then deep into to injury time El-Bakhtaoui finished well after a clever ball had played him in to make it 3-1 the tie was now well and truly over.

Good luck to Dunfermline Ath in the next round, they deserved their win tonight, they played some delightful football in the first half and dug deep in the second half. I'm disappointed with Dundee as they need a decent winger and l just hope the injuries clear up soon.

Dundee: Bain, Konrad, McPake, Etxabeguren (Carreiro 59), McGinn, McGowan, Harkins, Ross, Holt, Hemmings, Stewart. Unused Subs: Mitchell (gk), Irvine, Meggatt, Gadzhalov, Black, Curran.

Att: 3,806

Ref: S Finnie

Andrew Loves The Dark Blues

Aberdeen Photos

Aberdeen 2, Dundee 0, Pittodrie, Premiership, 22-August-15

I made the journey north by train for my visit to Pittodrie in a few years, having missed our last three visits due to work. So l made sure that I went round a few pubs from my teenage years, it was in all a very good day apart from the result on the day.

Dundee were backed by a big Dundee support and every one were in fine voice in the hope of getting a good result to follow on by beating St Johnstone last Saturday.

Dundee passed the ball about well enough but there was no final cutting edge to our play and in the first half we did not create a single chance to trouble the Dons keeper, our keeper Scott Bain made a couple of saves and Aberdeen were far the better side in the first half.

Second half and straight away a half chance for Dundee a good ball by Stewart played in Hemmings and his shot was well saved by Ward, maybe if Kane had a extra yard he would have put the dark blues ahead. Dundee were looking more positive now and Greg Stewart was unlucky with a snap shot which flew just past the post to the relief of the Aberdeen fans.

Aberdeen took the lead soon after when Rooney headed home from a great Hayes cross, Manager Paul Hartley changed things and put on Carreiro for Konrad and McPake went into attack as the dark blues looked for a late equaliser.

Aberdeen caught Dundee on the break in injury time and when Rooney went down in the box Referee Madden pointed to the spot and sent off midfielder Gary Harkins. Adam Rooney scored from the spot to seal the points for the dons.

Today Dundee were pretty poor and Aberdeen deserved the three points, we need to pick things up for the visit to Dunfermline on Tuesday which will be a tough game.

Dundee: Bain, Konrad (Carreiro 82), McPake, Etxabeguren, McGinn, McGowan, Harkins, Ross, Holt, Hemmings, Stewart. Unused Subs: Mitchell (gk), Irvine, Meggatt, Ferry, Gadzhalov, Curran

Att: 13,621

Ref: B Madden

Dundee 2, St Johnstone 1, Dens Park,

Dundee beat St Johnstone 2-1 at Dens, a early goal from captain James McPake who volleyed home from six yards from a Low corner, put Dundee in control. Then after 38 minutes a sloppy pass from St Johnstone's Davidson and Dundee quickly moved the ball for Low to cross for Kane Hemming's to score with a delightful header to put the Dee 2-0 up. Although Perth Saints pulled back a goal in the second half, Dundee held to win the game. I missed the game due to work so can't say too much about the performance, but going by reports it was a good win for the dark blues.

Dundee: Bain,McGinn, McPake (Konrad 62), Etxabeguren, Holt, McGowan, Harkins, Ross, Low (Meggatt 73), Hemmings (Tankulic 78), Stewart. Unused Subs: Mitchell (gk), Irvine, Ferry, Carreiro
Att: 6,176

Ref: K.Clancy

Dundee United 2, Dundee 2,

Dundee 1, Hearts 2, Dens Park,

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Kilmarnock 0, Dundee 4

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Pre-Season Catch Up

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