Dundee 2-0 Raith Rovers

Dens Park Stadium, Dundee: Saturday 24th April 2010 3pm kick-off.
Dundee finished their home fixtures this season with a win over Raith Rovers. Raith, whom had beaten the Dark Blues during the week at Starks, were coming into this game knowing that they will be returning to Dens Park next season in the First Division. Goals from Sean Higgins and Gary Harkins was enough to seal the points for the Dees. Raith hade few chances and those were brilliantly saved by Derek Soutar who was still feeling the effects of illness during the game. It was a superb kick from Sean Higgins which opened the scoring in the 52nd minute. A penalty was the route Dundee's second goal came from and it was Gary Harkins who did the honours by blasting his spot kick into the net in the 64th minute. Raith's misery was completed in the 84th minute when  David Armstrong was sent off in the 84th minute with his second bookable offence.

Teams:

DUNDEE:Soutar, Lauchlan, McKeown, O'Leary, Paton, Shinnie, Kerr, Harkins, Forsyth, McMenamin, Higgins
Subs Not Used: Geddes, Hutchinson, Clarke, Hart, Klimpl


Raith Rovers: McGurn, Murray, Hill, Armstrong, Ferry, Walker, Williamson (Sloan 62), Davidson, Russell (Smith 70), Tade, Mole (Simmons 46).


Subs Not Used: O'Connor, Shields
 
 
Attendance: 3,187

Dundee embarrassed at Raith as Inverness CT are crowned First Division Champions.

Raith Rovers 1-0 Dundee. Starks Park, Kirkcaldy, Wednesday 21st April 2010

A goal midway through the second half from Dougie Hill was enough to seal all three points for Raith who have eased their relegation play-off  worries slightly. It was another inept performance by Dundee who going into this game still had a very faint chance of winning the division. Dundee needed a win and anything less would hand the First Division title to Inverness CT.  Dundee created very few attacking opportunities and when they did, Raith did very well to defend and goalkeeper McGurn was comfortable in the saves he had to make. The only real bit of excitement for Dundee fans was the introduction of 49 year old Bobby Geddes who replaced an injured Tony Bullock in goal. It was a defensive mistake that allowed Dougie Hill to score from a corner and no fault can be placed upon Bobby Geddes. In fact, he kept Dundee in the game and the scoreline could have been far greater for the Kirkcaldy side if Geddes hadn't made a few fantastic saves in the last quarter of the game. You wouldn't have thought that Raith were the team struggling with a fixture pile up and fighting a relegation battle, that was more like Dundee. With the final whistle ringing out at Kirkcaldy, cue scenes of delight in the houses of Inverness CT fans who were now celebrating a return to the SPL where they were relegated from last year. As for Dundee fans, it was a bitter pill to take.


Teams

Raith: McGurn, Murray, Armstrong, Hill, Ferry, Williamson, Davidson (Sloan 85), Walker, Russell (Smith 71), Mole (Shields 90), Tade.
 Subs Not Used: O'Connor, Gathuessi.

Goal: Hill 54


DUNDEE:  Bullock (Geddes 27), Paton, McKeown, Lauchlan, Forsyth, Hart, O'Leary, Klimpl (Hutchinson 61), Harkins, Clarke, Higgins (McMenamin 61).
Subs Not Used: Shinnie, Kerr.


Attendance 1,544

Bobby Geddes in goal for game against Raith?

He maybe 49 and hair slightly greying but that won't stop Dundee Goalkeeping coach Bobby Geddes being in goal tommorow night against Raith Rovers at Starks Park if Tony Bullock and Derek Soutar are not fit in time. It leaves a bit of a crisis for Chisholm who is also looking at the option of recalling young John Gibson who is currently on loan at Elgin City. Speaking to the Evening Telegraph, he said:
"We’ll see how Tony and Derek are tomorrow and it may be the case that the fittest one will have to play"
**Meanwhile Leigh Griffiths is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.




quotes http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/04/20/story14913277t0.shtm

Dundee's promotion dream dashed at Cappielow as draw is not enough.

Greenock 2-2 Dundee: Cappielow, Greenock, Saturday 17th April 2010.

Dundee boss Gordon Chisholm has laid down the gauntlet to his struggling players that their jobs are on the line after a poor 2-2 draw with Greenock Morton. Dundee fell behind in the 41st minute when on loan Hearts player David Witteveen pounced to strike the ball home.  Chisholm changed things at half-time and McMenamin and Shinnie were replaced by Clarke and Higgins as Dundee went in search for the equaliser. Dundee though were dicing with danger as Morton had two good chances to score their second but couldn't find the net. A long ball over the top in the 64th minute  however spread panic in the Dundee defence and when Witteveen was in the box, veteran defender Jim Lauchlan pulled the Hearts loanee and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Carlo Monti who executed the penalty well and guided Morton to a 2-0 lead. News was filtering through from Inverness that Caley had scored a second goal against Dunfermline and Dundee fans were disheartened as that was probably the league over. On the pitch the lack of fight and guile from the Dark Blues was evident. However in the 67 minute, the Dark Blues got themselves into the match. A throw in found Gary Harkins and he knocked the ball home. Morton 2-1 Dundee. Dundee then began to push and push for the equaliser but nothing was coming off for them. Morton had chances of their own the kill the game off but couldn't take them. Leigh Griffiths began to look more dangerous and he had various chances to bring the sides level but failed to make the most of the chances he had. The spurned chances by the youngster did not pray on his mind however. With 5 minutes remaining, Dundee won a free kick 20 yards from goal. Griffiths was on the touchline recieving some treatment for a knock but quickly gathered his wits together and insisted he take the freekick. He curled the ball into the net beating the keeper. Morton 2-2 Dundee. Dundee kept pushing but couldn't find the winner.

Teams:

Morton: Stewart, McGuffie, Greacen, Shimmin, Reid, Finlayson, Paartalu, Tidser, Monti, Witteveen, Weatherson (Simmons 78).


Subs Not Used: Cuthbert, Graham, MacGregor, Masterton
 
Goals: Witteveen 41, Monti pen 64
 
DUNDEE:Bullock, McKeown, Lauchlan, O'Leary, Paton, Kerr (Cameron 61), Harkins, Shinnie (Higgins 46), Malone, McMenamin (Clarke 46), Griffiths.


Subs Not Used: Soutar, Hart.
 
Goals: Harkins 67, Griffiths 86
 
 
Attendance: 1,998
 
 
An unhappy Gordon Chisholm spoke to the BBC after the match.
 
""Considering what we were playing for, I was really disappointed."The players were told the one thing they would get is a physical game and they didn't handle that. I thought we got bullied. Unbelievably, we weren't up for the fight in the first 45. It wasn't until we went 2-0 down that we thought we better start playing.
But to show that lack of urgency and determination like that in the first half is unacceptable."

 
According to various newspaper reports, Gordon is about to axe at least 10 players come the end of the season who are out of contract. Jim Lauchlan, Tony Bullock and Eddie Malone are all being linked with the exodus.


(Chisholm quotes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/8624003.stm)

Partick Thistle 0-1 Dundee

Dundee followed up their good win last week against by beating Partick Thistle a Firhill this afternoon. It was the 4th time this season that Dundee have picked up full points against Thistle and it keeps Dundee's title dreams alive. Pat Clarke scored the winning goal in the 75th minute after coming on as a substitute.

Big Rab out for rest of season.

Rab Douglas is out for the rest of the season as he is due to go for surgery on a troublesome knee. It has been confirmed that both knees will require treatment and Gordon Chisholm is hoping that Rab will be back for the start of pre-season training.

Photo (c) http://www.thedees.co.uk/

Inverness CT win whilst Ross County drop points.

Inverness CT beat Morton 2-0 at Cappielow to open up a seven point gap over Dundee whilst Ross County could only draw with Queen of the South 1-1.

.

"Cowboy" departs Clyde

Although not a piece of Dundee news, it does have a Dundee link.
After 4 months in charge of Second Division strugglers Clyde, John McCormack has left his post as manager. Initially, the fomer Dark Blues manager was appointed as ex Dundee player John Brown's assitant. However John was relieved of his duties in Novemeber last year and John McCormack was appointed Bully Wee boss. Clyde are currently 13 points adrift at the bottom of the Second Division after a rocky season which has seen the Cumbernauld side slip further in mediocrity. John had to build a side that after a mass player exodus was neccessary in order for them to avoid administration but the squad has been lacklustre and now find themselves in dire straights. Neil Watt, Director of Football at Clyde, will take charge of Clyde until the end of the season.

Dark Blue Forever would like to wish John "Cowboy" McCormack all the best for the future.


Photo (c) http://www.clydefc.co.uk/

Ally Gunn RIP

Dark Blue Forever were saddened to hear of the passing of former Dundee FC player Ally Gunn. He played in the post war era at Dens and made over 137 appearances for the Dark Blues.

We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Ally's family.

Dundee 3-0 Ayr United

Heroes: Colin and Sean

A very confident and polished Dundee performance saw Gordon Chisholm claim his first win as Dundee boss as Dundee ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against a lacklustre Ayr United. Dundee started the game with a bit of purpose and determination that was lacking in recent games. The Dark Blues took the lead after 12 minutes when a wonderful ball through from Brian Kerr found Colin McMenamin who was strong enough to shrug of the challenge of the Ayr defender and he casually placed a shot past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. 12 minutes later, Dundee were two up. A clever run by Andrew Shinnie saw him felled by an Ayr player at the edge of the box. Up stepped Sean Higgins who glided the ball into the far corner of the net leaving the keeper with no chance, fantastic goal. Dundee should have put the game to bed before half-time with two great chances by Harkins, one of which hit the bar. Dundee were coasting at the break.
Second half and it was more of the same from Dundee. The good crisp passing was still on display and as an attacking unit, looked very threatening everytime they went forward. Dundee though lost Gary Harkins early in the second half with a deadleg and was replaced by Colin Cameron. Dundee attacked and attacked but luck intervened on Dundee's part and chances went abegging, not for the want of trying though. The third goal was on the cards and it was a matter of time. It eventually came just after the hour mark when McMenamin headered the ball into the net at the far post afer a long throw. Dundee still venture forth and tried to get a 4th goal but it didn't come. Still, it was a terrific performance by the Dark Blues and it was a good performance that also saw Chisholm chalk his first win as Dundee manager.



Teams:

DUNDEE: 3-5-2

Bullock, Lauchlan, McKeown, O'Leary, Hart, Shinnie, Kerr, Harkins (Cameron 48) Malone, Higgins (Hutchinson 80) McMenamin

Unused subs, Soutar, Malcolm, Forsyth

Goals: McMenamin 12,60 Higgins 21


Ayr United: 4-4-2



 Samson, Mitchell, Aitken, Campbell (Easton 64), LaffertyKeenan (Kenny Connolly, 70), McGowan, Bowey, Visconte (Gibson 45) Roberts, McManus
Unused subs; Grindlay, Anton Connolly


Attendance 4270


Photo (c) http://www.thedees.co.uk/