Livingston 0, Dundee 2, Tony Macaroni Areana, cinch Premiership, 28th October 2023

Dundee made three changes with Lyall Cameron returned from injury, Mo Sylla was given his first start and Aaron Donnelly made his debut. Ricki Lamie, Fin Robertson and Amadou Bakayoko moved to the bench. 

In a slow first half both teams failed to hit the target with neither keeper making vital saves. Dundee's best was a Rudden shot and McCowan put one over the bar after a good run. Livingston themselves had a few shots but they were wide of the goal. 

Into the second half and Dundee made one chamge when Amadou Bakayoko came on for Lyall Cameron.

It paid off straight away when Dundee looked to have more options upfront, Livi hit on the break and they hit the side netting. Then McCowan had a chip shot saved by the keeper.

Then Rudden was unlucky a great ball from Donnely and Zak beat the keeper but his shot went wide of the far post. 

After 57 minutes it seemed that Dundee had broken through. Rudden picked up a loose ball and sent McCowan into the penalty area. Instead of shooting he laid the back for Bakayoko to net with a controlled, low shot from 20 yards.

There was no offside flag but after a lengthy VAR review the goal was disallowed. Bakayoko’s shot flew through a crowd of players. Boateng, who was well onside tried and failed to get a touch. McGhee was a couple of feet offside but left the ball. Referee Willie Collum looked at the VAR screen and decide that McGhee was interfering with play.

Livingston went down to ten men when Montana recieved a yellow card, but ater a Var call the Referee changed it to a straight red card. 

After this Scott Tiffoney came on for Jordan McGhee and  Dundee were going for the win, they had a few  chances before taking the lead on 82 minutes.

Donnelly’s long throw to the near post. Portales nodded down and Joe Shaughnessy hooked the ball home from close range.

Three minutes later the Dee captain delighted the travelling support with an encore. Owen Beck swept in a corner. Again Portales provided the assist, sending a glancing header at the neat post down into the danger area and  Joe Shaughnessy volleyed neatly home.

Dundee kept at it and Zak Rudden hit the post and Luke McCowan had a good effort well saved. 

A great second half performance and they well worth the three points. Next up is Rangers at home on Wednesday. 

Dundee: Carson, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly, McGhee (Tiffoney 74), Sylla, Boateng, Cameron (Bakayoko at half time), Beck, Rudden, McCowan. Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Pineda, Lamie, Ashcroft, Robertson, Howley.

Referee: Willie Collum

Att: 4,210

Dundee 0, Ross County 0, Dens Park, cinch Premiership, 24th October 2023

Dundee's first game for three long weeks, after the Aberdeen game was cancelled due to the weather. They made two changes when Jordan McGhee came in for Cammy Kerr, who was on the bench, and Fin Robertson replaced the injured Lyall Cameron.

Dundee started well but failed to test the Ross County keeper for most of the first half they had plenty of efforts but nothing came to fruit.

Ross County on the other hand made Trevor Carson work a few bit harder and he had to made two good saves one which was a great reflex one. 

The best moment in the first half came following a corner that was cleared as far as Malachi Boateng. The midfielder hit a fine crossfield pass, giving Fin Robertson space to send in a cross that ricocheted through the goalmouth without anyone getting a decisive touch.

Second half was not much better again Dundee had efforts on goal but they lacked power to trouble Ross Laidlow in the County goal.

Dundee got a break when County scored from a cross which Carson fumbled, allowing  Brown to bundle the ball over the line. The assistant referee’s flag was up and we all had to wait while the VAR team reviewed the decision. 

The goal was ruled out for offside, a correct decision but it was close. Soon after Dundee were unlucky when Laidlaw turned Amadou Bakayoko’s shot into the side netting.

Diego Pineda replaced Zak Rudden and gave a very lively contribution. He made some good runs which invited passes from midfield. Twice he took passes from Boateng and forced saves from Laidlaw. He also dragged a shot across goal from a tight angle. 

Charlie Reilly came off the bench towards the end of normal time and in the last added minute his low shot was saved by Laidlaw with the rebound evading Pineda.

So a draw seemed fair at the end of the game which l missed due to work. I was off on the Saturday it was cancelled but could not get a holiday to go tonight.

Dundee: Carson, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Lamie, McGhee (Howley 77), Robertson (Reilly 88), Boateng, McCowan, Beck, Rudden (Pineda 77), Bakayoko. Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Ashcroft, Donnelly, Sylla, Lewis.

Referee: Colin Steven

Att: 4,887

Stirling Albion 2, Dundee 2, Ross McGeachie Testimonial Match, Forthbank Stadium, 10th October 2023

Dundee put out a mixed team of first team and fringe players for this Testimonial game for Ross McGeachie. Dundee started brightly and nearly scored in the first two minutes with Rudden going close. 

Dundee’s early pressure paid off when  Luke McCowan opened the scoring. A well worked move started with Pineda who drove forward, Rudden then picked up the ball and played it wide to Robertson who delivered a low cross into the box which was met by McCowan who slotted the ball into the net.

Stirling Albion levelled the game a few minutes later when Josh Cooper scored when he never gave up on a long ball and he managed to squeeze the ball home.

Pineda then had two chances in quick succession firstly heading over from a cross from McCowan and then was just unable to get a clean shot on goal after a cross from Rudden.

Stirling took the lead after Dundee failed to clear a free kick and Ross  McGeachie scored with a low shot into the net. Soon after Rudden hit the post with a header from a McCowan cross.

Dundee made five changes for the second half with Portales, Lochhead, Wilkie, Allan, and Mohammed all coming on, replacing Kerr, Lamie, McCowan, Boateng and Rudden.

They started well and levelled the game when Lewis drove forward and played in and Jack Wilkie who side-footed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

A lot of good football was played by both teams, but they failed to score any of the chances which got to the final stage. 

Dundee made more changes when Mo Sylla and Diego Pineda were replaced by Luke Graham and Euan Mutale. 

Sebastian Lochhead came off in the 70th minute due to injury and was replaced by Marley Sweenie-Rowe. Just after this substitute Stirling nearly went in front again when Keiran Moore had a shot outside of the box but it went just over the bar.

That's how the game ended and well done to Ross McGeachie service to his club Stirling Albion over the years.

Dundee: Legzdins, Kerr(Portales-45mins), Ashcroft, Lamie (Lochhead 45 mins – Sweenie-Rowe 70 mins), Roberson, Sylla (Graham 60 mins), Lewis, McCowan (Wilkie 45 mins), Pineda (Mutale), Rudden (Mohammed)

Footnote: Ross McGeachie's dad George McGeachie played for Dundee and he earned a Testimonial game v Liverpool at Dens in 1987.

Fife Dark Blues at Easter Road

 

I missed the game due to work At least I'm off for the next visit to Easter Road......

Hibernian 0, Dundee 0, Easter Road, cinch Premiership, 30th September 2023

Dundee made several changes to their team with Jordan McGhee and Scott Tiffoney were injured, Josh Mulligan was suspended, and Zach Robinson was on the bench. Antonio Portales, Cammy Kerr, Lyall Cameron and Zak Rudden came into the starting eleven.

Dundee started well and played some neat one touch football and Zak Rudden had a good header saved by Marshall. Hibs finally came into the game and Trevor Carson had to be quick to make several saves/ 

Dundee were quick on the break with great runs from Owen Beck the main threat to the Hibernian defence with Dundee had a few efforts on goal before half time.

Second half and it looked like Hibs stepped up a gear but again Trevor Carson saved well and the defence all stuck to their tasks and defended well/ 

Dundee still hit on the break and were unlucky a few times when the ball would not fall. Hibs really went the winner in the last tens minutes but missed a few headers which they put over the bar. Then in a great brakaway Luke McCowan out paced Boyle and once clear he passed inside to substitute Ryan Howley who teed up Beck to hit a ferocious shot from 12 yards that was superbly saved by David Marshall.

A great chance gone but so  unlucky Dundee saw out the last three minutes of injury time to gain a vital point on the road.

Dundee: Carson, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Lamie, Kerr, Cameron (Howley 87), Boateng, McCowan, Beck, Rudden (Robertson 82), Bakayoko. Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Pineda, Ashcroft, Robinson, Donnelly, Sylla, Lewis.

Referee: John Beaton

Att: 16,793