Dundee started with the same lineup as their last game, which was not a surprise. Dundee started on the attack and Simon Murray had a shot blocked in the first minute.
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
Both teams had to wait around 3-4 minutes after the game was delayed after the away support threw balls on to the pitch. After it was cleared the game got underway.
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.
Dundee made two changes to the Dee starting eleven. Simon Murray was available after illness and Yan Dhanda returned from supension. They took the place of Drey Wright and Ash Hay, who were on the subs bench.
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
The game got off to a slow start with both teams trying to keep the ball, the only chance was when Wright had a shot saved after good play from Fin Robertson.
After this St Mirren were the slightly better side, with Dundee playing need football but were too slow at times and failed to create a clear cut chance.
St Mirren took a deserved lead in the 39th minute when Jonah Ayunga’s low shot from the left of the penalty area was turned in by Killian Phillipd right in front of McCracken.
Dundee started the second half much better. Ethan Hamilton sent a strong shot straight at George from 22 yards. That was all that a promising from the 15 minutes from the Dee amounted to.
St Mirren might have scored but Samuels made a good clearence to stop a certain goal. Three minutes later Dundee created the first and only chance of the second half. Ash Hay got on the end of Wright’s cross but didn’t connect cleanly with his header which drifted well wide.
St Mirren were happy to see out the game with Dundee not doing enough in the final third with the strikers being well marked.
Next week is the trip to Aberdeen which l will miss due to work.
Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Clark Robertson (c), Graham (Koumetio 82), Wright (Yogane 82), Finlay Robertson (Jones 88), Hamilton, Samuels, Congreve, Westley, Hay (Acquah 75). Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Ingram, Donnelly, Reilly, Galabov.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid.
Att: 6,382
Livingston started well and Jon McCracken made two routine saves, when first he pushed a shot round the post. From the corner it was a straight shot.
After this Dundee settled and played some good football, going down each wing to create chance whhich Livi managed to clear with a bit of luck.
Livingston only had one more chance but again McCracken saved the shot from Muirhead. On the 43rd minuted Dundee took a deserved lead when good work from Congreve to race into space down the right and sent a fast low pass across goal for Simon Murray to smack the ball home at the far post.
Dundee started the second half well and just lacked the final ball to the get the vital second goal. After 64 minutes Congreve picked up a misplaced pass on the halfway line. He ran into space created by Murray’s run to distract the defence and cut inside onto his left foot to shoot. Keeper Prior pulled off a superb save at the expense of a corner.
Two minutes late it was 2-0 when a good ball from Finlay Robertson and this send Cameron Congreve clear and his back post ball was knocked into the net by Joe Westley for his first goal for the club.
Dundee continued to threaten and looked sure to go on and take the three points comfortably. However, Livingston made three substitutions and livened up. The Dark Blues were coping with the attempted fight back but an unfortunate own goal by Clark Robertson transformed the game. A low cross struck his shin and flew past McCracken.
Callum Jones had already come on for Tony Yogane and straight after the goal Emile Acquah, Ashley Hay and Imari Samuels replacle Simon Murray, Joe Westley and Cameron Congreve.
Dundee were under pressure as Livingston went looking for a second goal. They got it from the penalty spot after Clark Robertson made which looked a fair tackle in the box, Bokila scored with ease and now it was 2-2.
The game went from end to end as both teams looked for a winner. Ashley hay headed over when maybe he should have done better. Livingston raced down the park and McCracken pulled off a great save and Ryan Astley cleared the ball off the line.
Perhaps Livingston lost their concentration at the miss because they were wide open when Dundee broke at pace. Reilly ran into the penalty area and was tripped by Danny Wilson. Referee Ross Hardie immediately pointed to the spot. Livingston delayed the spot kick while a player was treated for injury in the penalty area. When Callum Jones was about to take the penalty the referee was belatedly called to the VAR monitor to review his decision.
After three minutes and the referee stuck to his decision and pointed to the spot. Up stepped Callum Jones to score sending the keeper the wrong way to the send the Dundee fans wild. After this the referee played for a minute to finally end the game.
Great three points for the club, and sets up a visit to St Mirren next Saturday which will be a test.
Dundee: McCracken, Wright, Astley, C Robertson, Graham, F Robertson (Reilly 89), Hamilton, Congreve (Samuels 76), Westley (Hay 76), Yogane (Jones 71), Murray (c) (Acquah 76). Unused Subs: Carson (gk), Ingram, Koumetio, Galabov.
Referee: Ross Hardie.
Att: 5,108
In two seasons at Rugby Park, O’Hara played 27 times for Killie in all competitions.
He began his youth career at Manchester United, and during his time with Manchester United, he gained experience on loan at Stockport County, Morecambe, Macclesfield Town and Burton Albion. He then permanently moved to Burton Albion before going to Fleetwood Town and Colchester United.
Kieran will wear No 13 for the Dark Blues.
My view is l never expected this signing and hopefully it's a step in the right direction as I feel the club needed a fresh face to boost the squad.
The first 20 minutes was quite positive with Dundee attacking and Tony Yogane made some good runs. But after this wee spell Motherwell too control of the game with their neat one touch football.
Dundee’s defence did well to hold out until the 33rd minute when Motherwell stepped up the pace with a fast move that opened up the Dark Blues. Emmanuel Longelo’s pass set up Maswanhise one on one against Luke Graham. He beat the defender for pace before angling a low shot through McCracken’s legs to score.
At least Dundee got to half-time and they will need to change things for the second half.
Joe Westley who had taken a knock and had been booked and he was replaced by Cameron Congreve, and straight away it looked much better.
Two minutes after the restart Congreve won a free kick on the right. Yan Dhanda played it short to the Welshman and he delivered a wicked curling cross to the far post for Luke Graham to run in and head home.
Only a minute later Dhanda dinked a cross to the near post and Simon Murray sent a diving header narrowly wide.
Murray should have put the Dark Blues ahead after 55 minutes. Congreve won the ball inside the penalty area and set up Murray for a tap in. Somehow the ball didn’t end up in the net and screwed past the post.
But at least things were looking up and Dundee were like a totally different team.
There were still two big scares for the Dark Blues, however. Maswanhise chased a long ball and hooked a cross across goal from the byline. McCracken and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos both went for the ball, which somehow evaded both of them before drifting across goal and past the post. The Australian striker suffered a painful collision with the near post and had to be substituted.
The Dark Blues lost Yan Dhanda after 85 minutes when he was shown a straight red card for the sort of challenge with studs on Lukas Fadinger that would have been barely noticed by referees once upon a time but is not tolerated now.
Dundee reorganised and sent on Imari Samuels and Callum Jones for Fin Robertson and Simon Murray. Six minutes of injury time and the Dark Blues handled them to get a well desrved draw.
At least it sets up next weeks game against Livingston at Dens this Saturday.
Dundee: McCracken, Wright, Astley, Clark Robertson, Graham, Finlay Robertson (Jones 90+2), Hamilton, Westley (Congreve at half time), Dhanda, Yogane (Hay 71), Murray (c) (Samuel 90+2)
Unused Subs: Carson (gk), Ingram, Koumetio, Acquah, Galabov.
Referee:Calum Scott
Att: 4,572
The game got off to poor start with both teams keeping it tight, too busy in keeping the ball. Most times the final ball being poor.
United scored in 14 minutes which looked a poor goal for Dundee to lose, giving Und too much space.
Simon Murray got away from Bert Esselink onto a long pass from Yan Dhanda, but Yevheni Kucherenko stretched to turn away his lob. Referee Steven McLean awarded a free kick against Murray, however. That this incident is worth a mention illustrates how the Dee never got their game going in the first half and failed to give the United defence any real problems.
Dundee continued to struggle and did this for most of the first half.
At half time Dundee made two changes. Tony Yogane and Cam Congreve came on for Yan Dhanda and Joe Westley. The Dark Blues started with greater intent and energy, but this didn’t lead to any sustained impetus.
Ethan Hamilton had a run and shot but it was too straight and the keeper saved was too easy. After this the game went back to being poor to watch. United were happy to deep defend and Dundee shwed very little between midfield and attack.
With Simon Murray playing upfront he needed more help to cause Und any problem. United scored late on to seal the win which they deseved.
Fin Robertson, Billy Koumetio and Emile Acquah came on for Callum Jones, Drey Wright and Imari Samuels. It sadly did not change the flow of the game.
But for Dundee today they were very poor in linking play with any pace and it was a poor game for a big crowd to watch. United did not need to be good today, but it was too easy for them as the space they got.
Next up is Motherwell at home and we need to be 100% much better than today.
Dundee: McCracken, Astley, Robertson , Graham, Wright (Acquah 78), Jones (Fin Robertson 78), Hamilton, Samuels (Koumetio 78). Westley (Congreve at half time), Dhanda (Yogane at half time), Murray (c). Unused Subs: Carson (gk), Hay, Garza, Galabov.
Referee: Steven McLean.
Att: 10,750
