Today was always going to be a battle and a battle it certainly was. Dundee started the game very brightly and on their first sojourn up the park, we scored. It was a great build up play down the left wing and an excellent cross from Eddie Malone into Dunfermline's area saw Leigh Griffiths tap it into the back of the net. Dundee continued to control the game and had good possession with the ball until the 1oth minute. Slack play from Dundee allowed for David Graham to tee himself up and drill an excellent strike from the edge of the 18 yard box right into the top corner of the net leaving Rab Douglas well and truly beaten. Dunfermline took a great deal of heart from that goal but it was Dundee that would strike again just before the break. It was a well worked cutback from Leigh Griffiths that found Colin McMenamin in space and he tapped in his first goal at Dens for 2010. Half time came in which Dundee deservedly led and a half of industry and determination saw them 2-1 up at half time. Second half, Dunfermline came flying out of the traps. They immediately won a corner. Moments later, the Pars were back on equal terms. A very deep cross into the Dees box saw confusion amongst the Dundee defence and David Graham cusioned a header towards Andy Kirk who managed to stick it into the Dundee goal. Dunfermline were flying now. The confidence was oozing out of them and Dundee were all over the place. The midfield battle was easily won by Dunfermline and all of the second balls that Dundee were expected to win, the Pars won. Changes were needed and Jocky made them. Richie Hart was replaced by Brian Kerr, although it didn't go down too well with the Dens faithful as they felt that he was the best player on the park. Dunfermline pressed and pressed and were in total control of the ball. They were unlucky not to have taken the lead when one of their efforts rebounded off the bar. That proved to be a turning point for the Dees and they slowly began to creep back into the game. The old addage, "you have to take your chances" sprung to mind and Dunfermline certainly had loads of chances but they didn't take them and they were to pay for their ineptness in front of goal. In the 82nd minute, Dundee again were in front and again it was the determination of Leigh Griffiths that managed to place the ball past the keeper after Fleming initially saved 'Sparky's' first effort. Both teams made changes with Joe Cardle and Jim McIntyre going on for Dunfermline and Pat Clarke replacing Leigh Griffiths for the Dees. The last 10 minutes was all Dunfermline as they looked to rescue a point they would have deserved but Dundee stood firm and held on for all three points.
Final Anaylsis:
A tale of two halves for me. Dundee were great and exciting going forward in the first half and in the second it was Dunfermline that was in control. A massive three points nonetheless for Dundee and it gives us a boost going into the next league match against Queen of the South next Saturday at Palmerston. Let's hope that it's the first part of three wins in a week for Dundee.
Team Line ups:
Dundee: Douglas, Paton,Malone, Klimpl, Benedictus, Lauchlan, Forsyth, Hart, Griffiths, McMenamin, Harkins.
Subs: Soutar, Casement, Kerr, Young, Clarke
Dunfermline: Fleming, Ross, McCann, Bell, McGregor, Dowie, Gibson, Phinn, McDougall, Kirk, Graham.
Subs: Paterson, Cardle, Holmes, Woods, McIntyre.
Attendance: 5,207
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