Falkirk came into the game but never got close to the Dundee goal. Dundee looked dangerous when they attacked but the main chances were coming from set pieces.
And it was from one Dundee took the lead on 26 minutes from a corner. Cameron Congreve flighted the ball to the near post and Clark Robertson had lost his marker to head into the bottom corner from five yards.
Dundee were the better team until half-time and could have had a penalty when Ethan Hamilton was fouled in the box. Hamilton was booked and after a VAR chack he stood by the booking. For me it looked a stonewall penalty and could have reduced the Bairns to 10 men.
Falkirk came out second half and looked more positive in attack. Miller should have scored when he had a chance but he hit the top of the bar, after a careless pass from McCracken.
Falkirk now had some serious momentum. They kept attacking and equalised after 55 minutes. A deep cross found Ethan Williams beyond the far post and his fierce low cross shot struck Clark Robertson and flew into the net.
Then McCracken made a couple of good saves to keep Dundee in the game.
After a tough 20 minutes in which the Dark Blues rode their luck they managed to calm the game down following some well judged substitutions. Emile Acquah, Yan Dhanda, Callum Jones and Tony Yogane came on for Simon Murray, Cameron Congreve, Paul Digby and Joe Westley. Dundee were now able to exercise some level of control in midfield and get forward more.
Dundee looked more likely to score a late winner, but it was Falkirk who got it. The got the break of the ball and Allan was able to run all the way into the box to score. For Dundee it was very poor defending and it cost the club two vital points.
Next up is the trip to Tynecastle to face high flying Hearts.
Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Clark Robertson, Graham, Wright, Digby (Jones 70), Hamilton, Samuels,Congreve (Yogane 70), Murray (c) (Acquah 67), Westley (Dhanda 70). Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Ingram, Donnelly, Fin Robertson, Hay.
Referee: Ross Hardie
Att: 7,652
Dundee made two changes when Paul Digby and Drey Wright came in for Yan Dhanda and Finlay Robertson, also Dundee played 5 at the back.
Dundee started well and attacked from the off, which was good to see. They could have scored on 10 minutes when Westley was the unlucky when the ball fell not too kindly.
Cameron Congreve put in a dangerous cross which was missed by Murray and Westley. The Dark Blues were ultimately rewarded for their persistence. Congreve’s corner delivery into the Celtic box was met by Clark Robertson , whose fine guided header into the bottom left corner gave Dundee a well-deserved lead in the 18th minute.
Celtic hit back but Tierney put the ball wide of the post when in a good position. Celtic did push Dundee back a bit, but they failed to posed the Dundee defence any problems. Ethan Hamilton had a shot after a good run.
As the first half drew to a close, the Dark Blues launched into another fantastic counterattack. Drey Wright won the ball back outside of the Dundee box, allowing midfield-engine Hamilton to lead a break. A good ball released Congreve on the right-hand side, whose driven cross met the feet of Westley, who shot was turned in by Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers and sent Dens Park into jubilation.
Second half and as expected Celtic pushed for a goal to get back into the game. Dundee defended well and hit on the break with good pace and passing movements.
Ash Hay headed just wide of the post after he had replaced Simon Murray early in the second half.
Celtic were awarded a penalty after the ball hit Digbys arm in the box, after a VAr check it was ruled out as the ball had hit Digby's face and it was ruled out by the Referee. It was a big bonus for Dundee, they kept at it and they all worked hard.
As the game came to an end it took a great save from Jon McCracken to deny Celtic a certain goal he tipped ball over the bar.
As the final whistle blew it was very happy Dundee fans who went home with big smiles on their faces. Next up is Falkirk away next Saturday.
Dundee: McCracken, Wright (Ingram 86’), Astley, Clark Robertson, Graham, Samuels, Digby, Hamilton, Congreve, Murray (c) (Hay 57’), Westley (F. Robertson 75’). Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Donnelly, Acquah, Yogane, Dhanda, Jones
Referee: Matthew Macdermid.
Att: 8,318
Emilio Lawrence and James Wilson both scored hat-tricks as Scotland Under-21s demolished Gibraltar 12-0 in a European Championship qualifier at Dens Park.
Lawrence opened the scoring for Scot Gemmill's side after just three minutes, opening the floodgates.
The Manchester City youngster struck again before half-time, with an own-goal from Kevan Gonzalez and further strikes from Dire Mebude, Kyle Ure and two from Wilson putting Scotland seven up at the break.
Five of those seven goals came in a remarkable seven-minute spell as Gibraltar crumbled defensively.
The game followed a similarly one-sided pattern in the second half.
Wilson scored his third just after the restart before Lawrence struck twice more to take Scotland to double figures on the hour mark.
Miller Thomson and Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen completed the scoring as the Scots secured their first win and first points of their qualifying campaign after defeats by Czech Republic and Portugal.
Some wonderful goals tonight and it was good to see Luke Graham playing for Scotland U21's.
The Dee squad was a mixture of youngsers and first team players who have been mainly on the bench lately. Emile Acquah and Aaron Donnelly were unavailable through illness.
Dundee started the game well and had control of most of the first half. They forced a few corners and nearly scored from good quick moves, and the Montrose keeper done well to push a shot round the post.
But Dundee took the lead when Hay won the ball from a dithering defence near the edge of the Montrose penalty and passed sideways for Charlie Reilly to score with a precise low shot from 18 yards.
Harry Sharp had come on for Kieran O’Hara in goal at half time.
Dundee continuted to be the better side and this was the same up to an hour when Dundee made eight changes.
It took only two minutes for the newcomers to claim the second goal. The Dark Blues launched a good attack down the right. Yan Dhanda played a clever backheel to send Ethan Crombie to the byline in the penalty area. The young midfielder smashed a low cross to the near post. Keeper Matthews managed to beat it out and into the air, but Ethan Crombie reactedd quickly and followed up to send a header looping over the stranded keeper and under the bar.
The testimonial crowd should have been treated to further goals as we saw close things at either end. Harry Sharp had to scramble the ball away from Blair Lyons almost on the goal line as the Gable Endies’ striker pressed.
After 80 minutes Montrose won a corner and Dundee managed to clear. However, the referee had spotted an infringement in the goalmouth and awarded a penalty.
Of course Graham Webster stepped up to take the penalty but Harry Sharp played the pantomime villain by pulling off a tremendous full length save. That wasn’t quite the script and the home fans certainly let Harry know it!
Right at the end Graham Webster was substituted to a standing ovation. It was timed so perfectly that there was no time for anyone to come on as a replacement and the referee blew the final whistle as he left the pitch.
After the game Graham Webster made a short and gracious speech, playing tribute to the club he has served so well, and his teammates, and also thanking Dundee for coming to Links Park and taking the game seriously.
Dundee: O’Hara (Sharp at half time), Ingram, Galabov, Davies-Browne, Oosenburgh, Digby, Jones, Yogane, Reilly, Hay, Hunter
Dundee (from 62nd minute) Sharp, Ingram, Astley, Davies-Browne, Fin Robertson, Crombie, Hamilton, Mitchell, Samuels, Dhanda, Westley.
Cameron Congreve had a shot at goal in the 2nd minute which was saved. That was as good as it got for Dundee.
Dundee could have lost two goals after this, but Aberdeen scored three first half goals to finish the game. Dundee struggled for the rest of the game.
Aberdeen scored the 4th goal on 63 minutes and they could have scored more after this. For Dundee today they were not at the races and they have to back on track before the Celtic game at Dens.
I missed the game due to work so will go to Montrose on Wednesday to see the game.
Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Clark Robertson (c), Graham, Samuels, Finlay Robertson (Jones 80), Hamilton (Digby 89), Congreve, Dhanda (Reilly 80), Westley (Hay 62), Murray (c) (Acquah 62)
Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Donnelly, Wright, Yogane.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Att: 16,525
