Kilmarnock 1, Dundee 1, Rugby Park, Ladbrokes Premiership, 23-September-17

Dundee made three changes to the team which faced Celtic in midweek in came Kerr Waddell for the suspended Darren O’Dea, while Roarie Deacon and Scott Allan replaced Randy Wolters and Mark O’Hara.

Dundee got off to the perfect start when after a  good ball into the box from Scott Allan found Leitch-Smith who's shot was saved only for El Bakhtaoui  to score with a cool finish. Kilmarnock then made a few chances and Scott Bain had to save well from Erwin. 

Dundee went in at the break 1-0 up and second half both teams failed to take control. Kilmarnock did level the game when Greer shot home after slack defensive play from the dark blues. El Bakhtaoui went close near the end only for the Killie keeper to save well. Then Boyd missed a good chance in the dying minutes. 

A draw seemed to be the fair result in the end going by reports. A point away from home is always welcome. Next up is Hearts at Dens Park which should be a good game.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr (c), Hendry, Waddell, Holt, Spence, Kamara (Vincent 58), Deacon (Wolters 80), Allan (O’Hara 53), El Bakhtaoui, Leitch-Smith. Unused Subs: Parish, Williams, Aurtenetxe, Henvey.

Att: 3,452

Ref: Bobby Madden

Dundee 0, Celtic 4, Dens Park, Betfred Cup 1/4 Final, 20-September-17

Dundee crashed out of the Betfred Cup losing 4-0 to Celtic who were the better side over the 90 minutes. Neil McCann made two changes Randy Wolters kept his place for the injured Roarie Deacon, and Mark O'Hara replaced Sofien Moussa who is injured. 

Dundee started the game okay and Wolters was unlucky after his volley was deflected wide of the Celtic goal, then soon after this Leitch-Smith was clear but a poor first touch let Brown get a touch to clear the danger. Celtic did have efforts on goal, but Scott Bain only had one decent save to make. 

However Celtic did take the lead when Sinclair went down in the box and he scored from the spot. It looked a bit soft but would need to see it again. Dundee should have levelled when a clever ball in for Wolters and somehow El Bakatoui missed the ball it should have been a easy tap in. 

Celtic got their second near the end of the half when Forrest finished a good move giving Bain no chance

Second half and Dundee battled away trying to get a goal back to get back into the game, Celtic kept the ball well. Scott Bain made a good save from Forrest, but Celtic scored twice in the dying minute from sub McGregor and another from Forrest to make the final score 4-0.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Hendry, O’Dea (c), Holt, Spence (McGowan 73), Kamara, Wolters (Deacon 63), O’Hara, El Bakthaoui, Leitch-Smith. Unused Subs: Parish, Williams, Aurtenetxe, Waddell, Henvey.

Att: 6,917

Ref: John Beaton

More Photos From Saints Game...

Dundee 3, St Johnstone 2, Dens Park, Ladbrokes Premiership, 16-September-17

Dundee Manager Neil McCann make two changes Captain Darren O’Dea returned and A-Jay Leitch-Smith made his first start. They replaced Kerr Waddell and Scott Allan who were on the bench. 

Dundee started well and they looked dangerous going forward and had a few shots on goal with Saints keeper struggling with cross balls. It was no surprize when Dundee took the lead a Deacon free kick was headed well by O'Dea and McManus fumbled it letting A-Jay Leitch-Smith in to score a typical poachers goal. 

Dundee remained on top and Kevin Holt was unlucky with a shot which just went wide, Scoot Bain had a good save from O'Halloran. Roarie Deacon had to go off injured being replaced by Randy Wolters. Dundee had more chance with efforts from El Bakhtaoui and Wolters.

Second half and it was more of the same as Dundee went forward and went two up after a good move a neat header forward from Spence and A-Jay Leitch-Smith volleyed home for a superb goal. 

Then a crazy nine minute spell seen three penalties first Scott Bain came out from his line and caught Graham Cummins Liam Craig scored from the spot kick. Minutes later and it was a penalty to Dundee a great ball from Wolters send Leitch-Smith clear and he was fouled in the box. Sofien Moussa scored from the spot to restore Dundee's two goal lead. Then with six minutes to go O'Dea fouled in the box and again Craig scored. Darren O'Dea was sent off as well, Kerr replaced Moussa In between all the penalties Saints had a goal disallowed for a foul in the box.

With fives minutes of injury time Dundee held firm for their first league win of the season. It was well deserved and all the team played well with Lewis Spence had a great game, it was also good to Randy Wolter's play his best game for the Dee.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Hendry, O’Dea (c), Holt, Deacon (Wolters 22), Spence, Kamara, El Bakthaoui
Leitch-Smith, Moussa (Waddell 83), Unused Subs: Parish, Allan, O’Hara, Aurtenetxe, McGowan.

Att: 6,001

Ref: Alan Muir

Rangers 4, Dundee 1, Ibrox Stadium, Ladbrokes Premiership, 09-Sept-17

Dundee lost 4-1 to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday,  a few surprises in the team to start with Lewis Spence coming in to replace Paul McGowan, and Sofien Moussa returned from injury . From going by reports it was mostly one way traffic towards the Dundee goal. Neil McCann took off  Scott Allen replaced by A-Jay Leitch-Smith as he tried to change the flow of the game. 

Rangers scored just before half time, Morelos played a one-two with Kranjcar before leaving Bain helpless. Dundee tried to attack early second half and Deacon went close with a header, soon after Rangers had two great chances but missed them both. Then Dundee were unlucky not to score when a god move was almost finished by Moussa. 

Rangers went straight up the park and scored when Windass headed home. It was all one way traffic, and the Gers added two late goals from  Pena (83) and Morelos (85) made it 4-0. 

Faissal El Bahktaoui scored on the 90th minute with a fine finish to give the Dundee fans something to cheer. Looks like Dundee were pretty poor today and hopefully the young players will learn from this.

Next up for the Dark Blues is a visit from St Johnstone next Saturday where they need to get the win to kick start our season.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr (c), Hendry, Waddell, Holt, Spence, Kamara (McGowan 78), Deacon (Wolters 69), El Bakhtaoui, Allan (Leitch-Smith 37), Moussa.   Unused Subs: Parish, O’Dea, O’Hara and  Aurtenetxe.

Att: 49,164

Ref: Andrew Dallas

Photos From Oldham.....

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We had a great time in Oldham special thanks to John and Sarah for their hospitality and arranging tickets ect for the metro and the game. Also wonderful meeting up with Malc and having a few laughs about time s gone bye. Also Andrew loved his time his first visit to Boundary Park, it was a long weekend for a 5 year old. We got home at 10pm on Sunday so it was not too late for Andrew.

Oldham Visit....

Seeing I had a free weekend last Saturday I headed down to Oldham with my son Andrew for the Oldham Ath v Charlton game at Boundary Park. It was also a great chance to meet up with John and Malc Kennedy who I first met on The Isle of Man in 1987 while watching Dundee play on The Okell Football Festival on which they lost 1-0 to Stoke City in the Final.

I had booked my train tickets in July and got a real good deal so we left Cupar at 06:25 arriving Manchester Victoria at 11:31, John had come into Mancherster to meet us, and we got the tram to Oldham Mumps. A few pints and something to eat it was time to head to Boundary Park for the game.

We were in the new stand which is very impressive with Hospitality and the club shop ect. It has a bar inside so you can enjoy a pint before or at half-time.

Charlton grabbed an 18th-minute lead when Ricky Holmes unleashed a stunning 30-yard drive into the top corner. Not much Latics could do about that , worse was to follow when Tarique Fosu-Henry doubled the advantage three minutes later, cutting in from the left and firing beyond goalkeeper Ben Wilson from 10 yards.

Oldham responded after 34 minutes as Charlton defender Patrick Bauer was penalised for fouling Craig Davies, who drilled the resulting penalty past the dive of Ben Amos.

The Latics levelled six minutes after the break when the visitors failed to handle a long ball, allowing Eoin Doyle to mark his Oldham debut with a clinical 12-yard finish. However, Oldham were soon down to 10 men as Ousmane Fane received a second yellow card for bringing down Chris Solly.
It was a poor  decision from the Referee which changed the game as Oldham were getting on top.

Charlton capitalised after 62 minutes, Fosu-Henry feeding Billy Clarke to score from close range, and - 10 minutes later - they made it 4-2 when debutant Joe Dodoo went clean through to beat Wilson.
The home side regained hope with Jack Byrne's 20-yard strike eight minutes from time but they lost this fixture by a narrow scoreline to make it five-straight league defeats this season.

Oldham played well and put plenty of effort in and I'm sure that results will come their way soon.

Oldham Ath : Wilson, Gerrard, Clarke, Hunt, Bryan, Banks, Gardner, Byrne, Doyle, Davies
Subs: Edmundson, Mantack, Osei, Placide, Fawns, Fane

Ref: Ross Joyce

Att: 3,592

News From Dens

Kerr Waddle has signed a new deal which will keep at Dens Park until 2019 which is great news for the club, as the young defender has done well this season. 

Tom Hateley has left Dundee by mutual consent, the midfielder signed last September. He played 27 times for the club and gave his best. I wish  him all the best for the future.

 

Dundee have signed A-Jay Leitch-Smith on loan from Shrewsbury Town until January. Striker AJ is a product of Crewe Alexandra’s youth system. He has played in the Icelandic top flight and scored goals where ever he has been on loan.

He will go straight into the first team squad and hopefully his time at Dens will be successful.