Dundee 0, Rangers 0, Dens Park, cinch Premiership, 17th April 2024

Dundee made three changes to the team which played at Aberdeen, Ricki Lamie, Owen Dodgson and Malachi Boateng came in for Antonio Portales, Aaron Donnelly and Dara Costelloe, who all moved to the bench.

Dundee started well and in the first minute Amadou Bakayoko swung over a great cross which found Malachi Boateng and he drilled a low shot inches wide. They looked sharp and looking up for the game.

But minutes later they lost skipper Joe Shaughnessy when he landed awkwardly making a challenge in midfield. After receiving treatment he was replaced by Antonio Portales.

Rangers had a good chance soon after but McCracken saved well with his feet, minutes late there was a VAR check for penalty when the ball was handled by a Rangers player. It was not given after a check.

Dundee’s best moment came midway through the half after Scott Tiffoney was fouled inside the D, 20 yards from goal. Luke McCowan’s free kick flew through the wall. Jack Butland reacted well to save and recovered to block Tiffoney’s follow up. Bakayoko tucked the ball into the net, but he was offside when the second shot was made.

Then Rangers had another chance but again Jon McCracken pushed his shot round the post. In the closing stages of the half Rangers were better but they never troubled the Dundee defence who all worked hard to keep the score at 0-0 at half-time.

Rangers started the second half in the same way but again Dundee coped well and they made three changes but never made much difference. Dundee put on Curtis Main and Dara Costelloe to replace Amadou Bakayoko and Scott Tiffoney, who had both put in a power of work.

Dundee were still trying to attack but a few passes fell  short. On the other hand Jon McCracken had to make only one save of note in the second half, and that was a fine one. After 72 minutes substitute Cyriel Dessers skipped inside Ricki Lamie and fired a fierce shot for the top corner only for McCracken to respond superbly.

The Dark Blue’s only real chance of the second half came when Jordan McGhee picked up a deep cross from Luke McCowan and chipped a cross back into the goalmouth. The clearance went straight to Lyall Cameron whose shot was charged down.

Dundee saw the game out and fully deserved the point which l see as a bonus. I missed the game due to work and could not get a holiday. Next up is Celtic at Dens a week on Sunday another test for the Top Six Dundee Team.

Dundee: McCracken, McGhee, Shaughnessy (c) (Portales 9), Lamie, Dodgson, Sylla, Boateng, Cameron, McCowan, Tiffoney (Costelloe 63), Bakayoko (Main 63). Unused Subs: Carson (gk), Astley, Mulligan, Robertson, Donnelly, Mellon.

Att: 9,010

Referee: Don Robertson.

Top Six Fixtures..........................

Happy enough with our remaining fixtues after tonights game at Dens against Rangers:

Sunday 28th April 2024  Dundee v Celtic  3pm 

Saturday 4th May 2024  Dundee v St Mirren 3pm

Saturday 11th May 2024  Hearts v Dundee  3pm

Tuesday 14th May 20204 Rangers v Dundee 19:30pm

Saturday 18th May 2024  Kilmarnock v Dundee 12:30pm

It will be a case of any points against the top Three will be a bonus, plus three home games so you never know. 

Aberdeen Photos............

 

Aberdeen 0, Dundee 0, Pittodrie, cinch Premiership, 13th April 2024

Dundee in action for the first time since the Motherwell game at Dens. They started with the same team as that game. The game started and Aberdeen seemed to be the better side in the first 25 minutes of a scrappy game.

Dundee did change their formation and it helped them settle into the game, they managed to get two shots on goal. Luke McCowan robbed Connor Barron and played Cameron in but keeper Roos parried the shot. Late in the half McCowan worked a neat move with Tiffoney which gave Cameron space to shoot from 20 yards and his fierce shot clipped the top of the bar.

Dundee upped their game and took charge after the restart. Malach Boateng replaced Mo Sylla at the start of the second half. At last the Dark Blues were working their way conistently through the midfield with quick passing and smart movement.

Aberdeen had a few attacks but never troubled the Dundee defence, as Dundee kept looking for the vital goal. Tiffoney raced down the right. With the Dons defence scattered all over the place, he passed across goal for Cameron whose shot beat Roos but was somehow cleared off the line by Angus MacDonald.

It was agreat chance and another day it might have went into the net. Then Bakayoko only for the striker to prod his shot wide. Curtis Main came on for Dara Costelloe and thought he’d grabbed the winner from close range following a goalmouth scramble. The officials disallowed the goal for offside, a decision that was eventually confirmed after an agonising, interminable VAR review.

Aaron Donnelly saw a ferocious shot charged down following a long throw. In the resulting stramash Main hooked the ball over his head and Roos touched the ball onto the bar and over.

It was going into eight minutes of injury time when a big roar went up as Motherwell had scored to level the game and now Dundee only needed a draw to make the top 6.

Owen Dodgson and Ricki Lamie came on for Aaron Dodgson and Amadou Bakayoko as Dundee played out the remaining few minutes calmly as the fans sang and cheered them over the line. 

Then Aberdeen went down to 10 men when Shinnie was sent off for a second booking when he done a late tackle on  Malachi Boateng.

Aberdeen did have a wee spell of pressure but Dundee held out for the vital point to the sheer delight of the Dundee fans who celebrated when the final whistle blew. It was great to see and was so glad myself and Alexander had travelled up from London on Friday after a wee family break.

Well done to Tony Docherty his staff and all the players to archive the top six this season.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly (90+3), McGhee, Cameron, Sylla (Boateng at half time), McCowan, Costelloe (Main 74), Bakayoko (Lamie 90+3), Tiffoney (Mellon 85). Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Astley, Robinson, Robertson.

Dundee 2, Motherwell 3, Dens Park, cinch Premiership, 6th April 2024

The only change to the Dundee side was Jordan McGhee coming in with Owen Dodgson dropping on to the bench. The game went ahead after two pitch inspections at 11am and 1pm thankfully it went ahead.

The game got off to a slow start with Dundee playing some nice football in midfield but never any clear cut chancers were create. Motherwell looked fast and dangerous on the break.

The opening goal arrived after 36 minutes. Aaron Donnelly’s deep cross from the left found no takers. Camerom retrieved the ball and sent over a superb cross to the far post. Bakayoko headed back across goal leaving Jordan McGhee with a simple header to make it 1-0.

It was a big bonus for Dundee and Motherwell fought back and looked dangerous until hal-time.

Second half and Motherwell continued to look good pushing Dundee back and they missed a couple of good chances. 

Michael Mellon came on for Scott Tiffoney midway through the second half. The Dee perked up briefly for a few minutes and Luke McCowan missed by inches from the edge of the penalty area. Dundee then extended their lead with the strangest of goals after 70 minutes.

Luke McCowan took a corner on the right. Everyone missed his viciously inswinging delivery and the the ball flew straight into the net inside the far post.

It should have sealed the game but Dundee sat back too much and after a VAR check Motherwell scored from the penalty that was given. McCracken had saved the first effort from Blair but they scored from the second shot this time from Gent.

Within two minutes of play restarting a long ball through the middle found Bair up against Donnelly. The Well striker muscled Donnelly out of the way, ran on and rounded McCracken to score.

Worse was to follow when Motherwell scored again a cross was put and Ebiye scored with an emphatic near post volley.

It felt like a defeat at the end, Dundee did try and score when it was 2-2 but nothing fell for them. Motherwell deseved the win and Dundee paid the price with sitting back too much at 2-0.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly, McGhee, Cameron (Robinson 90+5), Sylla, McCowan, Costelloe, Bakayoko, Tiffoney (Mellon 68). Unused Subs: Legzdins (gk), Sharp (gk), Dodgson, Astley, Robertson, Boateng, Mutale.

Att: 5,924 

Referee: David Dickinson. 

Motherwell Photos plus night out with my Motherwell Mates