Livingston Photos..................

 

Livingston 1, Dundee 4, Tony Macaroni Arena, cinch Premiership, 27th January 2024

Dundee made several changes to their team with Trevor Carson who  had a niggling injury which meant he wasn’t risked on an artificial pitch. He was replaced in goal by Harrison Sharp, while Fin Robertson, Mo Sylla and Scott Tiffoney came in for Lyall Cameron, Malachi Boateng and Zach Robinson, who were all on the bench.

Dundee started slowly and Livingston forced the early play with several corners which the defence managed to clear.,

After 15 minutes and Dundee placed some nice one touch football, and 4 minutes later it led to the first goal. McCowan played after good play from Tiffoney and Luke tried a quick pass to Costelloe in on goal. James Penrice intercepted, but turned the ball into the path of Amadou Bakayoko, who smashed a 12 yard shot past McGovern in the Livingston goal.

Dundee had a good spell of play and could have added more goals. But close to half time Livingston were awarded a penalty when Holt went down outside the box. It looked a free kick kick. But after VAR review the Referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Shinnie but his spot kick was saved by Harrison Sharp to keep the score at 1-0 at half-time.

Second half and Dundee changed their system with Ryan Howley and Josh Mulligan coming on for Dara Costelloe and Fin Robertson. After a wee spell from the home team Dundee started to settle in and pushed for the second vital goal.

Then Ryan Howley got injured and was replaced by Malachi Boateng. Then Michael Mellon came on for Scott Tiffoney and it took him only two minutes to make his mark with a cool assist. Mellon ran into the penalty area onto a pass from McCowan. Instead of shooting he caught out the defence by rolling the ball back into the path of the better placed Luke McCowan who took a touch before passing his shot into the corner of the goal.

Soon after Luke McCowan was sent off for a silly tackle and seeing it was his second yellow card he had to go. 

Then more drama when Livingston were awarded another penalty it looked a good fair tackle but again VAR gave the spot kick. This time it was scored with ease. 

But a minute later it was 3-1 when after great work and play from Mellon he passes to Zach Robinson to score with a good finish. After that Sharp made a great save and followed it up with a good block to deny Livingston twice in a minute.

Then another quick break from Dundee and Michael Mellon  picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, shimmied across the face of the penalty area, and cracked a low shot inside McGovern’s right hand post. The flag went up for offside, but after a lengthy VAR review the goal stood, to the delight of Mellon and the Dees in the away stand.

Dundee seen out the last 10 minutes of injury time added on due to VAR and sealed a fine win for the dark blues. It also keeps my game record of games l have seen here in the league of never seeing Dundee lose. 

Dundee: Sharp, McGhee, Ashcroft, Shaughnessy (c), Dodgson, Robertson (Mulligan at half time) Sylla, Costelloe (Howley at half time (Boateng 59)), McCowan, Tiffoney (Mellon 60), Bakayoko (Robinson 71). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Astley, Main, Cameron.

Referee: Ross Hardie

Att: 1,906

50 Years On ....................

 

Cammy Kerr Goes Out On Loan

Cammy Kerr has joined Inverness CT on loan until the end of the season. Cammy has been a great servant to Dundee Football Club and had his testimonial year last year which was celebrated with a testimonial match against Celtic in November 2023. 

Cammy made his competitive debut for Dundee at the age of 18 in January 2014, appearing from the bench as a second-half substitute against Livingston. In total Kerr has played 272 competitive matches for the club.

Cammy will return to the club as he has a year on his deal at Dens. 

Hearts 3, Dundee 2, Tynecastle, cinch Premiership, 23rd January 2024

 More to follow.................

Kilmarnock 2, Dundee 0, Rugby Park, Scottish Cup 4th Rd, 20th January 2024

Dundee made several changes to their team with Adam Legzdins and Lee Ashcroft came in for the injured Trevor Carson and Aaron Donnelly. Dara Costelloe made his debut, replacing the departed Owen Beck.

Dundee got of to woefully start losing a soft goal in the first minute when the ball should have been cleared. It got worse 2 minutes later when from a free kick Kilmarnock got their second goal when Marley Watkins headed home when the defence could have been tighter.

It gave dundee a massive mountain to climb and it was them that needed the next goal. They did have the ball in the net on six minutes when Luke McCowan shot home but the flag was up for offside. It looked tight but you have to get on with it.

After 37 minutes Dundee’s defence was disrupted when Adam Legzdins had to go off with an injury. Harrison Sharp came on to replace him. Losing a keeper is always worrying, but Sharp was impressively calm and safe for the remainder of the match.

At least Dundee had a go at Kilmarnock but failed to create anything clear as chances went. In first half injury time the Dark Blues put together their best move of the game when McCowan played neat exchanges with Josh Mulligan and Bakayoko to run clear, only to screw his shot wide.

Second half and it was much the same Kilmarnock happy enough to keep things tight and hit Dundee on the break. Dundee kept at it but too many long balls failed tp produce anything of note.

Curtis Main and Owen Dodgson came on for their debuts. Both fitted in, but the pattern of the game was already well set. Charlie Reilly put in a lively cameo for the last quarter of an hour, showing pace and skill to trouble Kilmarnock in wide areas, but the defence always dealt with his crosses.

So as the game ended Dundee were out the cup again early and we can only hope they push forward in the league games coming up.

Dundee: Legzdins (Sharp 37), Ashcroft, Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Howley (Dodgson 57), Mulligan, Sylla, McCowan, Costelloe (Reilly 77), Tiffoney (Main 57), Bakayoko (Robinson 77). Unused Subs: Astley, Cameron, Robertson, Boateng.

Referee: Don Robertson

Att: 5,425

News From Dens Park.

Dundee have signed Owen Dodgson on loan from Burnley, the 20 year old left back has been on loan at Barnsley at the start of the season. He also played on loan to Rochdale during his time at Turf Moor. Owen will wear No 3 for the club.

Dundee have signed defender Ryan Astley from Everton for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal. The 22 year old done well on loan at Accrington Stanley in League One. Dundee have watched Ryan for a wee while and Manager Tony Docherty feels he will fit into his squad.

Dundee have signed striker Curtis Main on a 18 month deal, he has played for Motherwell, Aberdeen and St Mirren before going to India in the summer. In England he played for Portsmouth and Middlesboro scoring 69 goals in 420 games during his career.

As expected with rumours Owen Beck has been recalled by Liverpool, his form and doing so well it was no surprize to fellow Dundee fans. Owen has been tremendous on and off the pitch and will have a big future ahead in the game. I will keep a eye out and hope he goes on to have a fine career. 

Dundee sign Dara Costelloe on loan from Burnley until the end  of the season. The  winger had been on loan at St Johnstone earlier in the season where he played 12 games scoring once.

Dara started his career at Galway United before he sined for Burnley where he made is debut against Huddersfield Town and made three appaerences for Burnley. He then joined Bradford City on loan and played 11 games. 

Kilmarnock 2, Dundee 2, Rugby Park, cinch Premiership, 30th December 2023

Dundee made four changes to their team when Josh Mulligan, Ryan Howley, Mohamed Sylla and Scott Tifffoney came in for Cammy Kerr, Lyall Cameron, Malachi Boateng and Zak Rudden, who were all named as substitutes.

The game started slowly and it was Killie had the first chance but Carson made a good save. The next 30 minutes Dundee took control and they played some nice football. 

It was no surprize when Luke McCowan scored it was a great goal he took the ball on the right from Josh Mulligan, burst infield past David Watons, and curled a beautiful low shot around keeper Will Dennis and inside the far post. 

Ryan Howley and then Scott Tiffoney went close to scoring the killer second goal. 

Second half and it started in the same mode and again when close to scoring. Then Killie woke up and went close twice, Dundee defended well and looked to see the game out. 

To try and bring more composure to the Dee midfield Malachi Boateng came on or Ryan Howley, with Josh Mulligan moving to right wing back.

Cammy Kerr came on for Mulligan to provide more experience in defence. But then lost a sloppy goal, and just after that Owen Beck hit the ball off the bar after a great run into the box.

Worst was to follow when Killie scored again what looked like the winner. But two minutes later Dundee forced a corner and Beck swung the ball in for Joe Shaughnessy a free header and the skipper powered home the equaliser to send the Dundee fans wild with Dee-Light.

Dundee: Carson, Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Donnelly, Howley (Boateng 67), Mulligan (Kerr 82), Sylla, McCowan, Beck, Bakayoko, Tiffoney (Reilly 77). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Rudden, Ashcroft, Cameron, Robertson, Lewis.

Referee: David Dickinson

Att: 5.780

Dundee 0, Celtic 3, Dens Park, cinch Premiership, 26th December 2023

Dundee made two changes to the team that beat Ross County. Cammy Kerr came in for Ricki Lamie and played at right wing back with Jordan McGhee moving to central defence. Zak Rudden returned in attack replacing Zach Robinson who was on the bench.

Dundee's first chance was after 11 minutes when Cameron shot across the goal, after that they were pinned back by Celtic who controlled most of the next 30 minutes. They had a great chance but they shot wide of the goal when really they should have scored.

Second half and it much the same and Celtic scored their first after just seven minutes. Dundee did have a wee spell on the attack but McCowan's shot was just wide. 

Zach Robinson and Scott Tiffoney replaced the strikers who had worked hard with no reward. The change made no difference to the game.

Celtic scored again on 83rd minute and added a third goal in injury time to seal a 3-0 win. Dundee struggled and will have do better at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Before the third goal Ryan Howley replaced the injured vRobinson, and Mo Sylla also came on for Malachi Boateng.

Dundee: Carson, Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Donnelly, Kerr, Cameron (Robertson 73), Boateng (Sylla 84), McCowan, Beck, Bakayoko (Robinson 68 (Howley 84)), Rudden (Tifffoney 68). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Ashcroft, Mulligan, Pineda.

Att: 9,144

Referee: Don Robertson