7,746 WITNESS THRILLING LAST HOME MATCH AT DENS OF THE SEASON


DUNDEE 3-2 PARTICK THISTLE.

A bumper crowd packed Dens Park today and weren't disappointed as Dundee maintained their unbeaten record in the league this season. Two goals from Craig Forsyth and a penalty from Matt Lockwood saw off a plucky Partick side who were reduced to ten men midway through the second half.

It was Dundee's last home game of the season and the weather was outstanding. The Dundee fans arrived in their numbers to Dens Park for a party in the sun and to show their appreciation and support to Barry Smith and the boys.

Partick Thistle started off very brightly and bossed the possesion in the first quarter of the half. But Douglas was only called into action really once in the first half when he superbly saved from a Doolan shot and Grehan's follow up was diverted behind.

At the beginning of the second half, there was an unfortunate clash of players between Bendictus and Grehan with Grehan coming off the worse and he had to be stretchered off to a chorus of warm applause by both Partick Thistle and Dundee fans. Flannigan replaced Grehan but it kind of knocked Partick for six a little and Dundee gradually began to take charge of the game.

Forsyth, Riley and Harkins were the instigators of the Dundee attacks and they all caused Partick big problems in the last third of the pitch. It was Forsyth that opened the scoring for Dundee in the 58th minute when a superb touch and turn from Riley at the edge of the box resulted in a through pass to Forsyth, the young winger drived forward into the box and unleashed an unstoppable shot which beat ex Dundee keeper Scott Fox at his near post and into the back of the net. Cue wild celebrations in the Dundee stands.

Two minutes later and Dundee doubled their advantage. Rab Douglas launched a mammoth throw to Gary Harkins who with a sublime first touch ran down the left flank and crossed a low ball into the box where Forsyth shot only for Fox to save it before Fozzy had a second bite at the cherry and glided the ball home to make it 2-0 Dundee.

Dundee were cruising here and Partick looked punch drunk. A couple of minutes after the second goal, Dundee nearly had a third when Rennie had a diving header superbly saved from Fox.

The 68th minute saw Dundee's defence switch off and that resulted in Stewart scoring for the Jags with a well placed shot past Douglas and into the bottom left corner after a fine run.

However before Partick could get a grip on the game, Dundee scored their third, courtesy of a Matt Lockwood penalty. Craig Forsyth was homing in on goal when he was fouled clumsily by Kinniburgh and the referee had no hesitation but to point to the spot and to also order Kinniburgh off the park. Lockwood slammed the resulting penalty into the net and cue wild celebrations from the Dens faithful once again.

Forsyth, who was named Man of the Match, should have completed his hatrick in the dying embers of the game but he headed a Rennie cross just inches over the bar.

Thistle managed to grab another goal deep into stoppage time when again Dundee went to sleep and that resulted in Doolan turning the ball home at the near post from close range.

Dundee saw the remainder of the game out rather comfortably and the game ended 3-2.

What a superb achievement from the players and to go through a season at home undefeated in the league is no mean feat either. The players went down the tunnel before coming back onto the pitch to take the acclaim of the Dundee fans who got the party started. It was emotional scenes as the players and fans both showed their appreciation and I am sure there was a lot of lumps in the throats of all Dundee supporters that day as the Dees signed off their home campaign with a fine win in the sun.


Well done the Dees, oh so proud of you all,

Douglas

Benedictus, McKeown, Weston, Lockwood

Rennie, O’Donnell, Irvine, Forsyth

Harkins

Riley (Tulleth 86)

Unused subs: Gibson (gk), Bartlett, Webster, Carnegie

Goals; Forsyth 58, 60; Lockwood (pen) 70

Bookings: none.

Partick Thistle FC

Fox

Kinniburgh, Archibald, Balatoni, Boyle

Campbell (Fraser 67), Cairney, Erskine, Stewart (Lochead 80)

Doolan, Grehan (Flannigan 50)

Unused subs: Scully (gk), McGrotty

Goals: Stewart 68, Doolan 93

Bookings: Lochead (foul on Harkins)

Sent off: Kinniburgh (denying Forsyth goal-scoring opportunity)

Attendance: 7,746

DEES CONFIRM SAFETY AFTER WIN IN DINGWALL.

Ross County 0-1 Dundee.

Dundee confirmed they will be plying their trade in the First Division next season with a slender win over Ross County in Dingwall courtesy of a second half Leighton McIntosh goal. More to follow......

ROSS COUNTY V DUNDEE PREVIEW

Dundee head to Dingwall tommorow in the knowledge that a win would seal our position in the First Division. It would be an incredible achievement for the Dark Blues after the various sanctions such as the transfer embargo and the 25 point deduction placed upon us.

Still, tommorow is another game in the First Division calendar and Barry Smith is as focused on tommorow's game as he has been on the games he has managed so far. Barry was at Palmerston during the week to see the Staggies in action in preparation for tommorow. Speaking to http://www.thedees.co.uk/, he said:

"I was down watching them on Tuesday for 60 minutes and they done very well so we know it's going to be a good game because as good as were in the first half at Morton, we had the battling qualities to stay in the game in the second half, so it should be a good game.

"We always go into every game believing we can take 3 points but it's not as easy as just believing" said Barry, going on to say his players have what it takes to do the job. "With the set of players and what they've done throughout the season and last week's result, they should go there and have confidence in being able to play and win the game."

"Well that's what we've aimed for since we went into administration" was his response when asked how good it would be to secure league status this weekend. "We want it over and done with as quickly as possible so if it happens on Saturday then that's great."

Dundee have a full squad to choose from tommorow apart from Sean Higgins who is injured. Ross County have Paul Lawson as a doubt after he picked up a knock during the midweek game whilst they have Richard Brittain suspended.

source: http://www.thedees.co.uk/

NEARLY THERE BUT WIN WOULD SEAL IT.

Tommorow's match against Ross County in Dingwall is a huge match for Dundee FC. If we can get a win tommorow, then that seals our place in the First Division for next season. However if we lose and Cowdenbeath win, then we could seal our place in the First Division next week at Dens against Partick Thistle. If however Cowdenbeath drops any points tommorow, regardless of the Dundee score, then Dundee will be safe.

Match preview will be on here later today.

DUNDEE WIN VITAL THREE POINTS AT CAPPIELOW

Greenock Morton 1-3 Dundee

A valuable three points headed back to the City of Discovery as Dundee edge closer to safety in the First Division. Two goals from Leighton McIntosh and one from Gary Harkins ensured the win for Dundee although O'Brien scored for Morton. More to follow.....

GREENOCK MORTON V DUNDEE PREVIEW

Dundee have a full compliment of players to choose from ahead of the game against Morton at Cappielow tommorow. The only absentee is Sean Higgins who is out injured. Having played with four teenagers last week at Dens against Stirling Albion and they did very well, Barry Smith is expected to revert back to his strongest possible line up in the hope of winning all three points which could go a long way in our efforts to avoid the relegation play offs. Gary Irvine, Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston all return for the Dees.

For Greenock Morton, they have a few injury worries and hope that Kevin McKinley and Fred Bachirou recover from knocks meanwhile Kevin Kelbie and Sean Fitzharris are both ruled out for the visit of Dundee.

EX DEES CORNER: MARK FOTHERINGHAM

Mark in his Norwich City days.

Mark Fotheringham joined Dundee FC from Celtic in 2003 and was signed by the then Dundee boss Jim Duffy. A player that was so highly thought of at Celtic, he only managed to make a handful of games for the Parkhead club before making his move to Dundee. At Dundee he made over 50 appearances in his two year stay at Dens Park and helped Dundee to the Semi-Final of the CIS Insurance League Cup after scoring in the 2-1 win over Hearts at Dens Park in the Quarter Final. Unfortunately, he suffered the pain of relegation with Dundee as they were relegated from the SPL in May 2005. His stay at Dens was over though and in 2005 he joined German Bundesliga side SC Freiburg where he would make just 9 appearances. His short stay at Freiburg ended in 2006 and he then joined Swiss outfit, FC Aarau where he would make 13 appearances. 2007 saw a change of scenery and this time he was back in the UK with Norwich City. He made 69 appearances for the Canaries and scored 3 times. During his spell at Carrow Road, he was made club captain. After an alledged bust up with the then Canaries boss Brian Gunn, Mark left the club in April 2009 to pursue his footballing career elsewhere. After various trials and interest in him, Mark joined Dundee United on a three month deal. He had signed a contract to join Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta in January 2010 and so had a spare few months where he chose to sign up at Tannadice under Craig Levein. In January 2010, Mark joined Famagusta and to this day he still plays for them.

photo (c) http://www.fansfc,com/