Dundee beat Airdrieonians 4-2 in their opening Premier Sports Cup group D game at Dens Park this afternoon. The Diamonds took an early lead through an own goal by Harry Sharp. Charlie Reilly equalised with a fine strike, but Sam Fisher put Airdrie ahead once more with a goal from 50 metres that he will remember for the rest of his life. The Dark Blues dominated the second half and finally emerged as worthy winners with goals from Ethan Hamilton, Joe Bevan, and Ash Hay. The Diamonds deserve great credit for the way they went for Dundee, giving their Premiership opponents a real fright before the Dee finally ran away with the game.
Three new signings made their debuts for the Dark Blues today. Owen Bevan and Idris Odutay started in defence, with Ryan Finnigan in central midfield. Joe Bevan also had his first start after signing in the January transfer window.
The Dark Blues were unacceptably slow and sloppy from the start and were lucky not to ship a goal in the first few minutes. They gave the ball away almost straight from the kick off and Matt Yates’ 20 yard shot took a deflection to send it inches outside the post.
In the third minute more slackness allowed Kian Taylor to burst through from the left. He sent a shot narrowly past the far post when a pass would probably have left Adedapo Mebude with an open goal.
Dundee did wake up enough to put in some promising attacks without looking convincing in their overall play. Joe Bevan hit the outside of the post after beating his man on the right, and Callum Jones had a fierce shot deflected for a corner.
It was hardly a surprise when Dundee’s vulnerability in defence gifted Airdrie the opening goal after 11 minutes. A corner dropping into the goalmouth wasn’t dealt with. Taylor headed against the post and the ball bounced off Harry Sharp’s back and over the line.
It took Dundee an uncomfortably long time to respond and get their game into gear. Eventually they started to build dangerous attacks. Drey Wright and Ethan Hamilton both forced saves with fierce shots.
Finally, just after the half hour, the Dark Blues equalised with a top quality goal. Hamilton laid the ball off for Charlie REILLY, who took a touch and sent an exquisite curling shot into the far top corner from 25 yards.
Dundee were well on top now and constantly threatening to take the lead. Bevan was terrorising the Diamonds’ defence with his pace and skill. Keeper Jamie Sneddon saved well after Bevan beat his man, yet again, and shot. Ryan Finnigan was desperately close with a low 18 yards shot as the Dee pile on the pressure.
The Dark Blues should really have taken the lead before half time. However, in added time before the break they fell behind to an astonishing goal. Former Dundee defender Sam FISHER took a free kick wide on the right, a couple of metres inside the Airdrie half. From fully 50 metres he blootered the ball over Harry Sharp and under the bar. It was one of those goals you had to see to believe it really happened.
The second half started with Dundee on top again and they should have taken the lead from a frantic early stramash in the Airdrie penalty area. However, with the Dark Blues well on top another moment of slackness almost brought a third Airdrie goal. The Diamonds were allowed to break through the middle far too easily. Yates sent Robbie Mahon clear but Sharp saved well.
Two minutes later Idris Odutayo missed a great chance when Callum Jones headed on, but the defender twisted to try and shoot with his stronger left foot and miskicked wide. The pressure on Airdrie was now unrelenting and Hamilton went close from 25 yards.
A minute later HAMILTON got it beautifully right when he hammered a magnificent shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Joe Bevan went close with two shots within a couple of minutes but Sneddon saved well each time. Frustratingly Dundee continued to make life harder for themselves by giving the ball away needlessly. It happened yet again and Taylor curled a shot wide.
Simon Murray came on for Callum Jones with Charlie Reilly moving to the left. The forwards kept working hard and their willingness to press brought the third goal. Hay robbed a defender wide on the right and sent BEVAN running through to drill a low shot inside the near post.
Reilly forced another good save from Sneddon at the expense of a corner following yet another scramble and that led to the final goal. Ash HAY climbed highest to meet Reilly’s corner with a firm scoring header inside the near post.
With the win safe the Dark Blues brought on youngsters Charley Oosenbrugh and Ethan Crombie, who was making his debut.
Dundee were fully deserving of their win today. There was some lovely attacking football with two superb goals, and two more that were well taken. But there is also plenty of room for improvement. The Dark Blues were dreadfully slow and passive for the first 20 minutes. At times the defence looked as if they had never met before. That lack of understanding and cohesion never quite went away.
Repeatedly, all over the park, Dundee lost the ball unnecessarily. It happened far, far too often. A Premiership team would have punished that. The final concern was the erratic quality of the crosses. Time and again Dundee played their way into excellent positions but the final ball was often not good enough. Fine approach play usually ended with half chances that were blocked, rather than clear scoring chances.
To finish on a more positive note, there were excellent performances from Joe Bevan and Charlie Reilly, who looked the most skillful players on the park. Idris Odutayo made a good contribution on the left, and he will improve when he develops a better understanding with his teammates. Ryan Finnigan was good on the ball but again, he still needs to build a connection with the rest of the team. Owen Bevan looked a good defender in his own right, but his partnership with Ryan Astley needs work.
Still, this was so much better than the same fixture last July when Airdrie won 1-0. We did see some fine entertainment, and some special goals. It could have been a lot worse.
Dundee FC 4-4-1-1
Harrison Sharp
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan (Aaron Donnelly 72), Idris Odutayo
Joe Bevan (, Ryan Finnigan (Ethan Crombie 84), Ethan Hamilton (c), Callum Jones (Simon Murray 62)
Charlie Reilly (Charley Oosenbrugh 84))
Ash Hay
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Joe Westley, Ryan Bland.
Booked: Murray (foul on Fisher).
Airdrieonians 4-5-1
Sneddon
Ross, Fisher, Easton, James
Mahon (Iserhienrhien 70), Simpson, Gallagher, Taylor (Cole Williams 90), Mebude (Pickford 90)
Yates (Walczak 82)
Unused subs: Adams (gk), Dylan Williams.
Goals: Sharp og (11), Fisher (45+1).
Booked: Mebude (foul on Reilly).
Attendance: 1,807.
Referee: Duncan Nicolson. Assistants: Calum Spence, Chris Gentles.
Report: James Christie.
