Christmas Tree is Done

 

Hearts Photos

 

Hearts 2, Dundee 0, Tynecasle, William Hill Premiership, 07-December-24

Dundee made two changes to their team when Fin Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden came in for Scott Tiffoney and Simon Murray, who were both on the bench.

Hearts started the game well and were trying to score early. They were getting a lot of balls into the box andxthey missed a couple of chances in the first tens minutes.

Dundee were struggling and gave the ball away too much and a goal had to come. It did after 21 minutes, a long cross was headed home by Shankland.

Dundee continuted to struggle and it was clear changes had to be made, but they fell 2-0 down when another shot was saved by McCracken but the ball was pushed out to the middle of the goal, it fell nice for Shankland to score his second of the game.

Dundee did have a ten minute spell, but failed to create anything of note, at least they got to half-time.

Second half and they made two changes Simon Murray and Ethan Ingram came on for Seun Adewumi and Fin Robertson. Jordan McGhee moved to left wing back and Josh Mulligan switched to central midfield.

Other changes were Tiffoney replaced Palmer-Houlden , and Vetro came on for Mulligan late on.

Dundee came close to conceding an embarrassing third goal when McCracken battered a clearance against Billy Koumetio and set up Dremmeh to run the ball into the empty goal from 35 yards. Fortunately the offside flag spared the Dark Blue blushes.

They looked better, but never forced Gordon into a save during the 90 minutes, apart of a diving save at Murray's feet late on. 

In injury time Portales put a header over the ball from a tight angle and that was that full time.

Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Portales, Koumetio, Mulligan (Vetro 83), McGhee (c), Sylla, Fin Robertson (Ingram at half time). Cameron, Adewumi (Murray at half time), Palmer-Houlden (Tiffoney 61). Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Carson (gk), Main, Kelly, Braybrooke.

Referee: Colin Steven

Att: 18,787

Motherwell Photos

 

Dundee 4, Motherwell 1, Dens Park, William Hill Premiership, 04-December-2024

Dundee made two changes to their starting eleven. Scott Tiffoney and Seun Adewumi came in for Fin Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden, who were both on the bench.

Both teams struggled in the first ten minutes with Motherwell doing slightly better. They had two shots on target, nothing to worry Jon McCracken,

Dundee took the lead with a goal of the highest quality in their first serious attack after 14 minutes. Scott Tiffoney did well to nip past his marker and race down the left. He passed to Seun Adewumi  who cut inside and whipped a glorious shot round keeper Aston Oxborough and inside the far post.

It was against the run of play but it was a fine goal, although it did not last long as Motherwell hit back when a fine move ended with Stamatelopoulos scoring after McCracken had made a fine save to deny Paton.

Motherwell had a good spell and Dundee tryed to hit on the break, but too many stray passes in a busy midfield which seemed overcrowded. 

That was the way the first half ended. It was great to  see Javier Artero at the half-time draw, a great talent for the dark blues 20 yearts ago.

Second half and the game sprung into life as both teams had a go, it was end to end stuff. 

As the hour mark arrived Motherwell won a corner, but it was the Dark Blues who scored from it with a classic breakaway. McCracken caught the corner and threw it out to Antonio Portales who was sprinting out of defence. The Mexican defender raced forward with Dark Blues flooding into the Motherwell half at pace. Portales had several options but passed left for Scott Tiffoney to cut inside the last defender and score with a low shot inside the far post from 15 yards.

Three minutes later it 3-1 as agreat pass from Murray played in Lyall Cameron who's shot took a deflection and ended up in the net to send the Dundee fans with delight.

Four more minutes and the Dark Blues killed the game with goal number four. Murray chased a long ball heading towards the corner flag. He muscled Kofi Balmer off the ball and set up Lyall Cameron to score with a low shot across Oxborough.

That finished the game as now Dundee in total control, although Motherwell still played on Jon McCracken had a couple of great saves to keep the score the same.

Billy Koumetio had to go off after taking a head knock and Sean Kelly came on for his debut, in midfield with Jordan McGhee dropping back, 

Julien Vetro arrived as a late substitute and impressed with some lively attacking on the right. His combination with Mo Sylla almost set up a fifth goal, but the ball got stuck between the feet of Seb Palmer-Houlden, another substitute. Fin Roberton also came on as well. 

Dundee finished the game well and the 4-1 win pushes them up to fifth in the table. So a very good night for the dark blues.

Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Portales, Koumetio (Kelly 84), Mulligan, Cameron, McGhee, Sylla, Tiffoney (Fin Robertson 69), Murray (c) (Palmer-Houlden 69), Adewumi (Vetro 89). Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Carson (gk), Ingram, Main, Braybrooke.

Referee: John Beaton. 

Att: 5,381.

News From Dens......

Dundee will play Dundee United in the 4th Rd of the Scottish Cup, it will take place on 18/19 Jan 2025.

Dundee are extremely pleased to announce the signing of Sean Kelly on a short-term deal till January 2025, subject to international clearance.

The 31 year-old is an experienced defender who has made over 300 professional appearances. Sean has played for St Mirren, AFC Wimbledon, Ross County, Falkirk, Livingston and has just finished playing for  Cypriot side Karmiotissa FC.

Kilmarnock Photos

 

Kilmarnock 1, Dundee 1, Rugby Park, William Hill Premiership, 30-November-24

Dundee nearly started with the  same team which finished the Hibernian game, with Clark Robertson out injured and Jon McCracken took over from Trevor Carson who had a slight knock. 

Dundee started well and were the better team in the first tens minutes, they stepped up a gear and created several chance.

Josh Mulligan burst past Robbie Deas on the left and his cut back was battered goalwards by Jordan McGhee. It took a fine save by Robbie McCrorie to deny Dundee an early lead. McGhee headed over from the resulting corner. A minute later Lyall Cameron rifled a low 20 yard narrowly past the post.

Again Mulligan got to the byeline and his cross was somehow missed by Murray when a goal looked certain. 

But as the first half went on the play became a bit scrappy and both teams stuggled a wee bit.

Second half and Dundee replaced Sylla with Ethan Ingram , with Mulligan moved into midfield,. Kilmarnock stepped up and looked the better side for a spell.

Dundee themselves struggled and Jon McCraken had to make a couple of good saves, but then Dundee replaced Josh Mulligan with Seun Adewumi, 

It paid off a few minutes later a good run and cutback from Adewumi and the ball fell nicely to Lyall Cameron who finished well high into the net. 

Kilmarnock made three subs and it paid off 9 minutes later when Wales scored with a fine powerfull shot. They went for the winner and McCraken again saved well and Dundee earned a well deserved point away from home. 

Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Portales, Koumetio, Mulligan (Adewumi 66), Cameron, McGhee, Sylla (Ingram at half time), Fin Robertson, Palmer-Houlden, Murray (c). Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Tiffoney, Kelly, Braybrooke, Vetro.

Referee: Ross Hardie

Att: 5,454