Ross County 0,Dundee 1, Global Energy Stadium, cinch Premiership, 16th December 2023

Dundee made two changes from the team that played Rangers last week. In attack Zach Robinson came in for Zak Rudden, who was on the bench. Owen Beck was fit and came back in at left wing back replacing Aaron Donnelly, who moved infield to take the place of the injured Antonio Portales in a central defensive role.

Ross County came close on 9 seconds when they tried to chip Carson from the half way line, both teams tried to score in the first 20 minutes with County going close twice. Thanks to Jordon McGhee who blocked a header at the back post and then stopped a certain goal when he cleared off the line. 

Dundee played some nice football but failed to give the strikers a decent clear chance as the first half came to a end with Murray forcing Carson into a good save.

Dundee threatened at the start of the second half. A neat passing move allowed Owen Beck to send Zach Robinson into the penalty area but his shot was blocked. County then had a dangerous few minutes with fast attacks down the left. They made a hash of trying to finish off the first two moves, but it took a fine tackle by Ricki Lamie to clear in the next attack.

Murray went close again with a header but missed the target, then Bakayoko came close when he  headed over from Beck’s wicked inswinging corner.

Josh Mulligan and Mo Sylla came on for Lyall Cameron and Malachi Boateng and gave the Dark Blues a greater physical presence in the midfield and that proved crucial in the frantic closing minutes. Zak Rudden then replaced Zah Robinson.

County then had a wee bit more play and went close to scoring but Trevor Carson made a double save to deny them. 

Six minutes of injury time were announced and Dundee went for the win. They had more control than County with their late attacks. Owen Beck almost scored a magnificent goal when he picked up a clearance from his corner. He dribbled into the penalty area, beating three men before his shot was cleared off the line.

At the end of those six added minutes Beck was fouled a yard outside the penalty area, in a perfect position for Luke McCowan. The midfielder duly took the kick and it was a beauty. He whipped his shot over the wall and off the post. The rebound cannoned back into the crowded goalmouth, off a defender and Joe Shaughnessy chested the ball into the back of the net.

Dundee fans went wild at the end and they deserve that they have been first class this season and backed the team. I missed the game due to Christmas shifts which were changed so l had to work, 

At least l get to the Aberdeen game next Saturday at Dens.

Massive win and three vital points for the club.

Dundee: Carson, Shaughnessy (c), Lamie, Donnelly, McGhee, Cameron (Mulligan 61), Boateng (Sylla 61), McCowan, Beck, Bakayoko (Reilly 90), Robinson (Rudden 75). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Tiffoney, Robertson, Howley.

Referee: Colin Steven

Att: 4,014

Rangers 3, Dundee 1, Ibrox, cinch Premiership, 09-December-23

Dundee made one change to their team when Ricki Lamie returning at centre back with Aaron Donnelly moving to left wing back to replace the injured Owen Beck.

Rangers were on the attack straight away when Carson had to make a save. Dundee then had a great chance when Cameron forced the Rangers goalie to save to give Dundee a corner. Cameron took the corner, a deep delivery. Lamie headed into the goalmouth and Amadou Bakayoko tucked the chance away from close range with only five minutes gone.

What followed was a Rangers attacking and they levelled the game on 20 minutes. Two minutes later  Sima got round Antonio Portales on the outside and Carson pushed the shot out for a corner. After the corner was cleared there was a lengthy VAR review which established that Aaron Donnelly had pulled Sima’s shirt. Tavernier scored from the resulting penalty.

Antonio Portales was injured in the lead up to the corner and was replaced by Cammy Kerr, who went to right back with Jordan McGhee switching to centre back.

Then after 34 minutes Rangers scored their third goal when Sima headed home to make the game harder for the dark blues. 

Carson had to save twice close to half time with Rangers hitting the woodwork as well, but then right on half time when  Jose Cifuentes received a yellow card for a foul on Bakayoko but it was changed to a red following a VAR review.

Second half and both teams made changes Scott Tiffoney and Charlie Reilly came on for Aaron Donnelly and Zak Rudden. Cammy Kerr moved to left back and Jordan McGhee replaced him at right back. Dundee were now lining up 4-3-3, with Tiffoney and Reilly the wide attacking players.

Although Dundee had more of the ball they failed to trouble the Rangers keeper and they were happy to hit Dundee on the break. 

McCowan and Cameron had efforts which went wide and the game finished in a 3-1 defeat. Next up is a trip to Ross County which is a hard game as usual.

Dundee: Carson, Portales (Kerr 26), Shaughnessy (c), Lamie, McGhee, Cameron, Boateng, McCowan, Donnelly (Tiffoney 51), Bakayoko (Robinson 68), Rudden (Reilly 51). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Ashcroft, Mulligan, Robertson, Sylla.

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Att: 47,229

Motherwell Photos

 

Motherwell 3, Dundee 3, Fir Park, cinch Premiership, 2nd December 2023

Dundee started slowly as Motherwell looked more dangerous in the first 15 minutes. They scored on 6 minutes with a well taken goal. The ball went in off the post to Carson no chance of saving. 

After that Motherwell seemed to sit back and hit Dundee on the break, Dundee started knocking the ball about and looked more dangerous when attacking. 

They scored on the half hour mark when Lyall Cameron headed home after good play from Beck and the ball was knocked back in by Aaron Donnelly to set up the header. 

The Dark Blues took the lead four minutes later with a goal that was beautifully crafted and executed. From deep in midfield Lyall Cameron split Motherwell’s defence with a pass that sent Zak Rudden to the byline. He pulled a low cross to near post. Owen Beck was there to drag the ball back into space, losing the last defender, and knock the ball into the net.

Dundee were in total control of the game and should haved added to the score line. 

Second half and Dundee looked great in the first 10 minutes, but Motherwell forced a good save from Carson, but minutes later it was 2-2 to set up a thrilling finish to the game.

Then Motherwell was down to ten men when Paton was sent for a silly tackle on McCowan, Dundee pushed forward and had a few chances to score. 

Scott Tiffoney replaced Jordan McGhee. Josh Mulligan and Zach Robinson came on for Lyall Cameron and Zak Rudden.

It was all Dundee as the Dark Blues pushed for a winner. Shortly after coming on Mulligan blasted a decent chance over the bar after the ball broke to him. A minute later, with 88 minutes on the clock, the Dark Blues got the third goal they deserved.

Amadou Bakayoko raced into space down the right, and passed infield to Luke McCowan in the penalty area. The midfielder moved the ball on to Zach Robinson who took a touch and shot into the corner from eight yards. 

With 6 minutes of injury time Dundee pushed forward to totally killed the game, they almost did. But after wasting a free kick. Motherwell broke up the field slack play from Dundee allowed them to score in the last minute to make the game 3-3.

A good game of football but really Dundee need to finish games like this as the draw felt like a defeat at the end. 

Dundee: Carson, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly, McGhee (Tiffoney 80), Cameron (Mulligan 85), Boateng, McCowan, Beck, Bakayoko, Rudden (Robinson 85). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Ashcroft, Robertson, Howley, Sylla.

Referee: Iain Snedden

Att: 4,239 

Dundee 1, Hibernian 2, Dens Park, cinch Premiership, 25th November 2023

Dundee started with the same team which beat St Mirren 4-0. In this game they started slow and seemed to stand off Hibs in the first 15 minutes. 

Hibs scored after 16 minutes with a well worked goal on the break. At least this made Dundee attack more and they looked much better with McCowan had a couple of good efforts. 

Dundee had a lot of the ball in the last 20 minutes of the first half but failed to trouble Marshall in the Hibs goal.

Second half and Dundee started well and Beck had a great run then fouled to stop a great run. From the free kick McCowan's shot hit the wall. 

Then Hibs scored again from a corner was headed home. A simple goal to lose and made it harder to come back from 2 nil down.

Minutes later the goal scorer was sent off for a second booking when he fouled Beck. Soon after Dundee made aggressive attacking changes replacing Ricki Lamie with Charlie Reilly and then Lyall Cameron and Amadou Bakayoko with Scott Tiffoney and Zach Robinson. Reilly took up the right wing spot, with Tiffoney on the left. Dundee’s formation was basically 2-4-4. 

The new wide players, with Dundee pushing forward from midfield, stretched Hibs. Tiffoney hugged the left touchline allowing Owen Beck space to cut infield causing Hibs endless problems.

Then Antonio Portales missed a great chance when he missed a header from a Beck cross as Dundee came closer to scoring.

Then in 86 minutes Reilly cut in from the right and his pass across the penalty area gave Beck space to shoot. Bushiri blocked, but Owen Beck followed up to score through a crowd of players.

With around 10 minutes to go counting injury time Dundee pushed for the vital next goal. But they forced a few corners but the ball would not break for them and the game ended 2-1 defeat.

Dundee: Carson, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Lamie (Reilly 70), McGhee, Cameron (Tifffoney 75), Boateng, McCowan, Beck, Bakayoko (Robinson 75), Rudden. Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Kerr, Robertson, Howley, Donnelly, Sylla.

Referee: Don Robertson

Att: 6,652