Saturday 10 December 2011

DEES MARCH ON!

A sunny Dens Park.
Dundee 2-1 Queen of the South: Dens Park

Dundee recorded their 5th league win on the trot with a narrow but deserved win over Queen of the South at Dens. Goals from Jake Hyde and Nicky Riley saw Dundee go in with a two goal lead at half time but within 10 minutes of the restart, a silly foul from Matt Lockwood saw Queens score from a free kick with a wicked cross into the box and Chris Higgins was there to head past Douglas and into the net.

Dundee, went into the match with Queens on the back of 4 consecutive league wins under their belts. The confidence of last season's spectacular unbeaten run has come back and that has seen Dundee rocket up the league and into third in the last week. Queen of the South came on a decent run themselves, having won and drawn their last two games, so they weren't going to be any push overs.
Queens kicked off the match but Dundee had the first real effort of the match with Riley narrowly firing wide from a teasing cross. Queen of the South then test Rab Douglas with a 20 yard effort which he strongly palmed away. Pretty much straight after, Dundee went up the park and scored. Irvine crossed the ball and Milne controlled wonderfully and shot but the keeper blocked and Jake Hyde was their to prod home the rebound.  Dundee had wind in their sails and a decent shot from Matt Lockwood saw the Queens keeper palm his effort round the post. Dundee looked threatening each and everytime they attacked and Nicky Riley was causing major problems for the visitors on the wing. His pace and skill left the defenders in his wake and was subjected to last ditch hacks to bring him down and halt his progress.
Dundee extended their lead around midway through the half. A cross from Ryan Conroy missed Milne in the box but Riley ran to get onto it and he turned the ball into the net even though the Queens keeper got a hand to it. Cue celebrations around Dens Park and Nicky Riley was booked for his celebrations with the crowd. A stupid rule but a rule that has to abided nonetheless.
Queen of the South were then reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute after Kevin Holt, who had been booked previously, hauled down Nicky Riley on the goal line just outside the box and subsequently Charlie Richmond produced a second yellow followed swiftly by a red and the Queens player was given his marching orders.
After the break, Queens came out and had a go. Stephen O'Donnell was replaced by Kyle Benidictus at half time and to be fair, O'Donnell was missed in midfield after his work rate in the first half.
Queens found a way back into the game in the 55th minute when Matt Lockwood gave a silly free kick away near the corner flag and was booked. A teasing cross from McGlauchlin saw Chris Higgins latch onto and he headed it past Rab Douglas and into the Dundee net.
That startled Dundee a bit and they began to sit back and allow Queens to have posession of the ball. When Dundee got the ball, they countered but in the 56th minute, Dundee were reduced to 10 men. Nicky Riley, who had been a constant thorn in the Queens side, was given a second yellow for a "dive" according to Charlie Richmond and therefore both sides were evened up at 10 a piece.
However Dundee should have sealed the points 10 minutes later when substitute Calum Elliot, on for Jake Hyde, was played clear through but he dragged his shot just past the right post. A close call for Queens.
Queen of the South did test Rab Douglas with a fine shot with 2 minutes remaining when Smith hit a stunning 20 yard shot but Rab dealt superbly well with it and turned it round the post. The Dees had a final chance to put the cherry on the cake in injury time when Irvine's miss pass found Elliot and the ball then dropped to Conroy who shot just over the bar. Dundee managed to hold on for the win and the majority of the 5019 fans went home happy as the Dees shot upto 2nd in the league after Falkirk drew with Hamilton 0-0.



Attendance: 5019


DUNDEE 

Douglas
Irvine, McGregor, Weston, Lockwood*
Riley** Rae, O'Donnell (Benedictus 45) Conroy
Hyde (Elliot 72) Milne (McCluskey 81)

Unused subs: Gibson (gk) McKeown

Goals: Hyde (7) Riley (24)


Referee: Charlie Richmond.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

Robinson
Black (Brighton 85), Craig Reid, Higgins (Clark 77),
McKenna
Carmichael, Johnston, Simmons (Alan Reid 28), McLaughlin, Holt**
Smith*

Unused subs; McKenzie (gk), McCusker

Goal; Higgins (54)

Key: * Booking  ** sent off

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