Dundee started with a young looking team and started t attack in the first ten minutes, but failed to get anything on target. Airdrieonians had a wee spell but Dundee put in a few good blocks to stop them scoring.
Dundee played some nice passing moves in the midfield but failed to get that vital ball to the strikers.
Ten minutes from half time the Dark Blues finally did create a good chance. Luke McCowan ran down the right and crossed for Cammy Kerr, who had two shots from 12 yards blocked. Neither Zak Rudden nor Scott Tiffoney could get shots away in the resulting scramble before Rae fell on the ball in relief.
Little changed after half time. Dundee continued to do most of the attacking, but without ever looking convincing. The Diamonds’ attacks were rare and carried no more danger than Dundee’s.
Just before the hour Diego Pineda came on to make his debut, replacing Zak Rudden. Within a couple of minutes Dundee were awarded a penalty that arrived out of nothing. Jon McCracken launched a long clearance that sailed over the heads of the Diamonds’ defenders. Scott Tiffoney raced after it and nudged the ball past Josh Rae before being flattened for an obvious penalty.
Lyall Cameron stepped forward to take the penalty, but his low shot was pushed round the post by Rae. Dundee were sparked into more urgent action by the disappointment, but there was still little penetration.
Diego Pineda did manage to get a shot from 15 yards on target after Josh Mulligan intercepted a loose clearance by Rae, but there was not enough power in the shot to trouble the keeper.
Airdrieonians were awarded a penalty with minutes to go and upstepped McCabe to score what proved to be the winning goal.
Dundee: McCracken, Kerr, Shaughnessy, Ashcroft, Wilkie, Boateng, Cameron (Robertson 68)
McCowan, Mulligan, Tiffoney, Rudden (Pineda 59). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Sharp (gk), McGhee, Byrne, Anderson, Graham, Lamb.
Att:
Referee: Colin Steven
