Bust Up at Dens......

Rumour has it the Rab Douglas has had a bust up with Manager John Brown after the signing of new keeper Steve Simonsen. Things like this happen all the time in football, l hope once the dust settles things can be sorted for the good of everyone.

Dundee Derby Ends In A Draw..............

Dundee drew 1-1 with Dundee United on Sunday and came close to winning the game with Und scoring in the last few minutes. Dundee had Gary Irvine sent off after just 20 minutes gone. Ryan Conroy scored half way through the second half with a great turn and shot, after a good run forward from Brian Easton. New keeper Steve Simonsen made his debut and seemed to do well with everything he had to deal with.

Dundee: Simonsen, Irvine, Grassi, Toshney, Easton, Riley (Benedictus 22), Davidson (McBride 77), McAlister, Conroy, Harkins (Cowan 80), Baird. Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Finnigan, Gallagher, Nish.

Att: 10,731

Ref: B Madden

I missed the game due to work.

Dundee Sign Keeper

Dundee have signed goalkeeper Steve Simonsen who has played for Everton, Stoke City, Sheffield United, and Preston North End who he left in January. The 33 year old has been brought in as Rab Douglas has a thigh injury which prevented Rab from taking his own goal kicks during the Inverness Caley Thistle game.

Photo Source: Here

The Future is Dark Blue

Andrew's DFC Top

 

Inverness Photos

Dundee 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 1, Dens Park, Premier League, 09-March-13

John Baird Scores Dundee's Goal

Dundee drew 1-1 with Inverness Caley Thistle in a close encounter at Dens Park. The home side took the lead with a well worked goal, good play from Harkins and Conroy and John Baird finished with a neat shot from 18 yards or so. Soon after Nicky Riley fired just over the bar as Dundee created a few chances. But it was ICT who nearly scored when Irvine cleared under pressure and some the ball came off the bar to safety. Soon after Andrew Shinnie hit the bar from about 20 yards out.

Second half and Davidson so nearly scored with a header but Esson managed to save and knock the ball over the bar. Dundee then had a good spell of pressure but just lacked the composure to finish off their moves. But as the game came to a close Caley Thistle scored to level things when a deep cross was headed home by small striker Billy McKay. Both teams went for a winner, but a draw was about right.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Grassi, Toshney, Easton, Riley, Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, Harkins,  (Finnigan 85), Baird. Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus, Gallagher, McBride, Stewart.

Att: 4,114

Ref: C Thomson

News From Dens................

A pitch inspection will take place at 10am due to the recent heavy rain over the past few days has left the pitch very wet.

Dundee play Inverness Caley Thistle today at Dens Park who have not lost on their last five visits. Let's hope that changes today with Dundee continuing the attacking football in the last three games. Team news Declan Gallagher returns after his suspension, and Carl Finnigan will also be in the squad.

It would be great to get the three points today just to close the gap at the bottom of the league. But we need to mark Billy McKay well as he has scored twice in the two meetings between the clubs with ITC winning both games 4-1.

Dundee 2 St Mirren 1, Dens Park, Premier League, 6-March-2013

On Wednesday Dundee entertained St Mirren who had been on a good run of results of late, the League Cup Finalists started a lot better than the home side and it was no surprise when they took the lead when after a good move was finished by Imrie with a stunning volley to give Rab Douglas no chance. Dundee had a lot of the ball but could not create nothing to trouble the Saints keeper. Rab Douglas made two wonderful saves to keep Dundee in the game, the one from a Parkin header must of had the striker shaking his head in disbelief.

Manager John Brown made two changes at half time with Ryan Conroy and Nicky Riley replaced Kevin McBride and Steven Milne. It was a formation change as well to give the team some width and to protect the full backs. St Mirren nearly scored at the start of the second half but somehow Parkin's header went over the ball. But slowly Dundee came into the game and  Riley had a shot which did not trouble Samson. But with 68 minutes gone John Baird got a break when he tried to beat a defender the ball came back to the striker and he curled a beauty past Samson to level the game.



The winning goal at Dens Park

With 15 minutes to go Carl Finnigan came on for the injured John Baird and straight away the winning second goal was scored excelled skill from Conroy he passed to Gary Harkins who beat 4 defenders with fabulous ball skills his cross was knocked on to Riley at the back post and he knocked the ball to Jim McAlister who finished across the goal to finish a superb move to the delight of the Dundee fans inside Dens Park.

Dundee kept coming forward and Conroy was unlucky with a shot which flew over the ball. Dundee played out the game to earn a very vital three points.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Grassi, Toshney, Easton, Davidson, McBride (Riley 45), McAlister
Harkins, Mline (Conroy 45), John Baird (Finnigan 76). Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus, Stewart, Morgan

Ref: S Finnie 

Att: 3,674

Cup tie photos

Dundee 1 Dundee Und 2, Scottish Cup 1/4Final, Dens Park, 03-March-13

Dundee just failed to reach the semi finals stage of the Scottish Cup after losing 2-1 to local rivals Dundee United. Gary Harkins was cup tied which was a blow and Declan Gallagher was also missing, Davide Grassi and Brian Easton both returned after injury.

Dundee started very well and took the game to United, but it them who opened the scoring MacKay-Steven seemed to carry the ball out close to the linesman, but he waved on play and the United player was then fouled. From the free kick McLean headed home from six yards. But Dundee levelled matters five minuted later when after good play from Milne found Baird who layed the ball to Jim McAlister to smash the ball home from 16 yards to end a fine move. Dundee forced United back and they did not look comfy. Dundee should have taken the lead when a cross was half cleared and the ball found Baird but some how he hit the keepers legs. But as the first goal United scored when a quick break and the ball was fed to Mackay Steven to shoot under Douglas for a fine finish. Dundee kept at it but it ended 1-2 at half time.



Second half and Dundee forced a few corners but failed to take advantage as the crosses were too close and easy for the keeper. Grassi did have a free header but headed down and the chance was gone, McAlister put one over the ball as time run out, late on Rab Douglas made a great save when fellow defender Grassi headed it back towards the goal. Time run out as United were content to play the ball into the corners to run down the clock.


Manager John Brown put on Mark Steward and Colin Nish earlier but it failed to grab the vital second goal.


Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Grassi, Toshney, Easton, Riley (Stewart 72), McAlister, Davidson, Conroy
John Baird, Milne (Nish 79). Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus, McBride.

Ref: I Brines

Att: 10,191

Second half pressure from Dundee

Dundee 2 St Johnstone 2, Dens Park, Premier League, 27-February-12

Ten man Dundee battled back to earn a 2-2 with Tayside Rivals St Johnstone, a good result given that Declan Gallagher was sent off midway through the second half. Up until then Dundee looked to take all three points.

Dundee started well and took the game to Saints and could have scored a few with good efforts from a Conroy shot, a Riley header and another shot from a distance free kick from Conroy which was saved by the Saints keeper. But against the run of play St Johnstone scored on the break when McLean headed home after the ball spun high after hitting Rab Douglas's knee. Another poor goal to lose. Dundee hit back and Harkins hit the post with a powerful drive. But they levelled four minutes from half time when John Baird headed home from a Conroy corner after a good  flick on from Gallagher.

Second half and Dundee took the game and Harkin was creating a few chances and Toshney should have scored but hit the keepers legs. Soon after Conroy effort was again saved from the saints keeper. Another break away and it changed the game McLean spun Gallagher and the young defender pulled the striker back, the ref sent him off. Worse was to follow when MacKay curled a free kick past Douglas to take the lead again. After that saints took control and looked to finish the game. Manager John Brown made changes bringing on Stewart and Nish for Baird and Harkins, Grassi had come on earlier for Riley. 

But it paid off when good play from Conroy the ball was then flicked through from McAlister to Mark Stewart and the striker blasted home from 12 yards to gain a vital point for Dundee.

Dundee: Douglas, Benedictus, Gallagher, Toshney, Irvine, Riley (Grassi 67), McAlister, Davidson, Conroy, Harkins (Nish 76), John Baird (Stewart 72). Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), McBride, Morgan, Milne.

Ref: W Collum

Att: 5, 224

 

Celtic 5 Dundee 0, Parkhead, Premier League, 24th February 2013

Dundee opened brightly at Parkhead on Sunday and were unlucky not to open the scoring when a Gary Harkins free kick ended up in the net but John Baird was ruled offside. But the home side took the lead on 13 minutes when Ledley scored after Rab Douglas only pushed the ball out to the Celtic player who tapped the ball home.

After this Dundee pushed forward and had a few great chances with Gallagher heading wide and Harkins hitting the bar, at the other end Douglas had a good save from a Hooper pile driver. Then Gary Harkins forced the Celtic keeper to tip one over the ball with a bit of luck it goes in.

Matt Lockwood gets send off

Second half and Matt Lockwood replaces Brian Easton and sadly he lasts only 3 minutes on the park when he is adjusted to foul Hooper in the six yard box and as last man he has to go. Celtic make it 2-0 from the resulted penalty scored by Forrest. Soon after and Douglas saves twice as Celtic take control of the game. In a rare Dundee attack Nicky Riley does well to get a cross in but it is missed by the Dundee forwards.

Soon after and  McGeouch heads home to make it 3-0, Gary Harkins comes off for McBride and soon after Ledley scores his second and Celtic's fourth goal. Near the end and Hooper completes the scoring when he takes the ball well on his chest to shoot home after a great ball from Ledley.

Then David Morgan came on for his debut replacing winger Nicky Riley and the game ended with Rab Douglas saving several times to stop the home side from adding to score line.

Ray Farningham was in the Dugout and must have been happy enough with the players efforts, and likely the sending off cost them the game.

Dundee:  Douglas, Irvine, Easton ( Lockwood (46), Benedictus, Gallagher, McAlister, Davidson, Riley (Morgan (78), Conroy, Baird, Harkins (McBride(68). Subs Not Used: Baird, Nish, Milne, Grassi, Lockwood.

Ref: Clancy

Att: 39,959

Dundee Appoint John Brown......

Dundee FC have appointed John Brown as Interim Manager to the end of the season, in a move that shocked myself and a lot of  fellow DFC fans. There was angry scenes at Dens Park when the news broke on Saturday at a Question and Answers session with a number of Fans walking out in disgust with some of the statements from the Directors of the club.

I have taken my time to write this and although John Brown would not have been my first choice l have decided to give him a chance to do his job, l watched the Celtic game on Sunday and you could not fault the players in the first half and they matched Celtic in all areas and likely the sending off of Matt Lockwood has cost them the game. But l seen enough from the players that they do work hard and they will have to continue to do this for the rest of the season as they are playing for their futures.

It will be interesting to see if the fans do give the new Manager a chance, l hope so as he was a great player for us in the mid 1980's and if he can get the same passion from some of the better players at the club that will be a good thing.

I would also like to thank Barry Smith for his time as Dundee Manager he done his best and it's a big pity that Football is a results business and sadly managers come and go. I had hoped for a better season and maybe not bringing in a quality creative Midfield and Striker likely cost Barry his job and time to build the club.

So it's time to move on and back the team and the new manager John Brown  for the rest of the season, in my time as a DFC supporter l have seen a lot of bad decisions, we must learn to do things better.

Not Good.........................

Angry George Harris wants the rule book ripped up to stop Dundee fans being kept in the dark over momentous decisions at Dens Park. Fans chief Harris has tendered his resignation from the Dundee FC supporters society on which he presently sits as chairman,over the decision to sack Barry Smith.
He cited a lack of communication between the board and the fans as the telling factor,while calling for a monumental restructuring of the club from the top down.
At present the supporters society have three reps on the board-Maurice Kidd, Eddie Devlin and Fraser McDonald and hold a 52% stake in the club.
But Harris was angered that he was not told of the decision until mid day yesterday and no dialogue had taken place between the board and the society,he was also disappointed to hear of Barry's departure second hand rather than from one of the fan reps on the club board.Harris believes the supporters have the right to know what is going on at the fans owned club,to find out this kind of news second hand is wrong,they should have had dialogue with us but they chose not to,the whole structuring at the top of the club is wrong.

Some people at the club have too much to say,and some seem to have no say at all-it is wrong,There are too many chiefs it is unhealthy the way decisions are taken at the top,Harris who is staying on in his role as Dundee supporters club association chairman,met DFC CEO Scot Gardiner yesterday.It was then after the news broke that he offered his resignation from the society post.Harris is keen to exonerate Gardiner from the decision making process,the fans need to know-this decision was solely down to the club board,Scot just delivers their decision,he has no say in it,we need to go about restructuring the way that the club is run.

Football fans are the lifeblood of any club,without the fans clubs would not exist and that has to be remembered,at the end of the day Dundee FC will outlast us all,the club is bigger than any one player/board member or manager,for the clubs sake we need to act,Harris admits he was disappointed by the sacking of Smith,we would be in the second division if it wasn't for him,all we can do is to wish him all the best in the future.

As a DFC supporter i would definitely have kept him in the job,it would have made sense to at least give him to the end of the season,but its not a decision that I'm qualified to make-that's well beyond my powers ,it is a strange decision given the fact that we backed him a month ago,tomorrow is another day i hope as a club we can move on from this.

Barry Departs Dens Park...................

BarrySmith

Dundee have parted company with Manager Barry Smith according to the Official Website. No further news will be posted until things have been concluded.

I would like to thank Barry for his services to Dundee FC and wish him all the best for the future.

The results and football we have played has been very poor over the last two seasons and we have to get back to playing attacking football. One thing is for sure is it won't be easy for the new Manager who ever he is.

Picture Source;  Here

Aberdeen 1 Dundee 0, Pittodrie, Premier League, 15-February-13

Dons Programme

A Niall McGinn goal on 18 minutes was enough to give Aberdeen all three points in tonight's league encounter. Team wise Ryan Conroy and Nicky Riley came in for Kevin McBride and Colin Nish. By reports Dundee played well enough but got caught on the break for the goal. Jim McAlister hit the bar near the end of the first half when maybe with a bit of luck the ball goes in.

Also l think we need to play more 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formation as l don't think Aberdeen are that good a side, and maybe the difference is that they have a striker in McGinn who can score goals. I don't see the point in knocking high balls into the box as we only had John Baird upfront and he won't win too many headers.

It was enough for the home side to take the points tonight, and likely if results go for St Mirren and Ross County tomorrow we will never close the gap and in my view we have to plan for the First Division.

Dundee: Douglas,Irvine, Gallagher, Toshney, Easton, Riley, McAlister, Davidson, Conroy (Nish 79)
Harkins, John Baird. Unused subs: Alex Baird (gk), Lockwood, McBride, Benedictus, Morgan, Milne

Att: 7,841

Ref: B Colvin

I also hope we are more positive against Dundee United in the Cup and go for it, l would play three strikers, but I'm a fan and want to see attacking football.

Teams come out for 2nd half (v Killie)

Dundee 0 Ross County 2, Dens Park, Premier League, 8th-February-13

Dundee on the attack second half

Ross County left Dens park with all three points on Friday night which was live on BBC Alba. Dundee battled away for the 90 minutes but Ross County were stronger and quicker on the break when it mattered. In the first 30 minutes Dundee were very poor with all their efforts going to the County keeper who had a easy first half. Only a Gary Harkins shot which was just over was of any note. At the other end Rab Douglas had a couple of decent saves. Both teams had penalties claims turned down by the referee. 

Second half and much more of the same with Dundee struggling to create any clear cut chances with County hitting on the break and should have scored when Wohlfarth was put one on one with Rab Douglas but somehow he put it over the bar. Dundee only response was a poor Baird header wide when the striker had time and space to take the ball down. County scored with just 7 minutes to go when Lawson shot came back off the bar and the linesman said the ball had crossed the line, at the time l could not be sure on this. Then in the final minute County broke and Glen raced clear to round Douglas to score a fine score to seal the points.

Dundee battled away tonight and you can't fault most of the players, but they do struggled to link the midfield and the strikers up. The final ball in the box is very poor most of the time. I hope they can raise it for the Cup game in 3 weeks time as it's looks like First Division Football next season.

Dundee:Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Gallagher, Easton, McBride (Stewart 77), Davidson, McAlister
Harkins, Nish (Riley 57), John Baird. Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus, Conroy, Lockwood, Morgan.

Att: 4,726

Ref: J McKendrick

NewsFrom Dens....................

Dundee will play Dundee United at Dens in the 1/4 Final of the Scottish Cup when the draw was made on Sunday. the full draw below;

Hamilton v Falkirk

Dundee v Dundee United

St Mirren v Celtic

Kilmarnock v Hibs

The ties are due to get played on the 2nd or 3rd of March 2012.

Dundee 5 Morton 1, Dens Park, Scottish Cup, 3rd February-2012

Dundee swept past Morton with a stunning 5-1 win over the current First Division leaders. Jim McAlister put Dundee ahead on 29 minutes with a fine finish, Morton levelled just 2 minutes later when Tidser forced the ball home past Douglas in the six yard box.



One each at half time and many could not see the second half goal feast from the home side. Goals from Toshney(64) Header, Nish (70) Header, Baird (73) Shot, and Gallagher(81) Header sealed the game, and gave the Dundee fans a welcome boost from what has been a difficult season result wise in the league.

It was also pleasing the the goals were scored by five different players and it must give them a boost.
I missed the game due to work but even l was shocked at the scoreline to say the least.

Next up is Ross County at Dens on Friday night a must win for Dundee l would think.

Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Gallagher, Easton, Riley, McBride (Conroy 85), Davidson, McAlister, Nish (Mline 79), John Baird (Stewart 85). Unused subs; Alex Baird (gk), Benedictus