A breathtaking 4-2 victory over Arbroath gave the Dark Blues their first home league win of the season in the Friday night game for TV. Luke McCowan scored late in the first half only for the Lichties to equalise through a Nicky Low penalty at the start of the second half. Zak Rudden put Dundee back in front but Colin Hamilton pulled Arbroath back onto level terms. With both teams looking for a winner it was the Dark Blues who ran away with the match, scoring twice in the last few minutes through substitute Zach Robinson and Josh Mulligan.
There were three changes to the Dark Blues’ starting eleven from the team that beat Raith. Paul McGowan and Luke McCowan kept their places after coming on as substitutes and loan signing Joe Grayson made his debut. Shaun Byrne and Max Anderson shifted to the bench where they were joined by Cillian Sheridan after almost 10 months out through injury.
The Lichties started confidently and Daniel Fosu gave the Dee an early scare when he spun into space 15 yards out but Harry Sharp saved well.
Arbroath forced a series of corners that Dundee didn’t handle well. From one of these Colin Hamilton headed against the post and Ryan Sweeney scrambled the rebound away for another corner. Scott Stewart headed narrowly wide from a Hamilton cross.
The visitors might have had the better early chances but it was hardly one way traffic. Luke McCowan’s shot was blocked after Paul McGowan intercepted a wayward clearance by Lichties’ keeper Derek Gaston, and Cammy Kerr also had a shot blocked at the resulting corner.
Stewart hooked a good chance over the bar after the Dee defence struggled with a cross.
From the 20 minute mark Dundee started to increase the tempo and Arbroath struggled to cope with the Dark Blues’ pace and energy. Josh Mulligan burst through the middle before shooting too high. A neat free kick gave Paul McMullan space to set up Mulligan, who miskicked.
Gaston pulled off a great save from a Kerr header when McMullan whipped in a dangerous free kickk. Kerr had another go from the corner, but shot too high.
McMullan missed a cutback from Luke McCowan as the Dee cranked up the pressure
After 40 minutes Dundee finally broke through in thrilling fashion. Tyler French made a crucial interception in his own penalty to stop a dangerous attack. He took Arbroath by surprise by sprinting out of defence, exchanging passes with McMullan and tearing down the right wing. Zak Rudden’s backheel gave him the chance to shoot but Gaston saved. The ball broke to Paul McGowan who set up Luke McCOWAN to crash his shot high into the net.
Dundee started the second half as they finished the first. Mulligan failed to get enough on his shot when he tried to turn in McGowan’s effort as the Dee looked like extending their lead. A promising move was ended with Hamilton fouling Kerr a foot outside the penalty area. Gaston saved McCowan’s low free kick.
Disappointingly the Dark Blues then threw away their advantage, conceding a poor goal. A long ball through the middle wasn’t dealt with. Michael McKenna got onto the end of it and went down when Harry Sharp challenged. Referee Graham Grainger awarded a penalty and Nicky LOW tucked the ball away.
The unexpected equaliser gave the Lichties a big lift, but Dundee responded well and continued to play attractive attacking football.
Midway through the second half the Dark Blues deservedly took the lead once more. Ryan Sweeney kept the ball in play after a corner was half cleared. McGowan crossed and Gaston couldn’t get a clean punch in the crowded goalmouth. Zak RUDDEN took advantage of the stramash, poking the ball into the corner of the net from close range for a goal he had earned after a night of relentless graft.
McCowan had the chance to grab a third goal, but shot over after a lovely move down the right.
Arbroath had already used one substitute and took advantage of the new rule to send on a further four in one go. The bold move gave them fresh energy and impetus in midfield. They won a series of corners, and the Dee defence failed to cope with one, allowing Colin HAMILTON to bundle in a close range goal.
Both teams went for broke in a frantic last 10 minutes. Dundee continued to play the more dangerous attacking football but it was Arbroath who passed up a big chance four minutes from time. Jason Thomson ran down the right and his cross broke to Dale Hilson who knocked the ball over the bar from a few yards out.
That was a crucial moment because the Dark Blues turned the screw on Arbroath to grab two thrilling crowd-pleasing late goals.
Zach ROBINSON had replaced Zak Rudden shortly before the second equaliser, and he rose high to meet Luke McCowan’s inviting cross and send his header from 8 yards into the top corner.
With Arbroath stretched and chasing the game in injury time the Dee punished a slip by Ricky Little with a fourth goal. Josh MULLIGAN pounced, raced away, and cut inside to smash a curling shot high into the net from 18 yards.
This was as entertaining a game as the fans have enjoyed in many a year. Arbroath contributed enormously to the spectacle and will feel the scoreline was harsh. But Dundee deserved this win. Their pace, energy and invention was too much for the Lichties, and the finishing was clinical.
Newcomer Joe Grayson had a tidy game in the middle of the park, getting in the way of Arbroath moves, and keeping Dee moves going with sensible passes.
Some of Dundee’s defending was a bit ropy, but overall this was a very pleasing performance. There are very promising signs of Gary Bowyer’s team gelling into an entertaining attacking outfit – and the supporters lapped it up.
The atmosphere was special – and a major reason for that might have been that the game was a tribute to the legendary Pat Liney. Pat would certainly have loved it.
Dundee FC 4-3-3
Sharp
Kerr, Sweeney (c), French, Marshall
Mulligan, Grayson, McGowan (Cameron 90+2)
McMullan, Rudden (Robinson 79), McCowan (Ashcroft 89)
Unused subs: Legzdins (gk), Byrne, McGinn, Robertson, Sheridan, Anderson.
Goals: McCowan (39), Rudden (64), Robinson (88), Mulligan (90+2).
Booked: Sharp (foul on McKenna for penalty).
Arbroath 4-4-2
Gaston
Thomson, O’Brien (c), Little, Hamilton
Stewart (Hilson 71), Gold (Craigen 55), Low (Jacobs 71), Hancock (Linn 71)
McKenna, Fosu (Donnelly 71)
Unused subs: Gill (gk), Paterson, Shanks, Corfe.
Goals: Low (51 pen), Hamilton (81).
Booked: Hamilton (foul on Kerr), O’Brien (foul on Rudden).
Attendance: 5,114 (704 away).
Referee: Graham Grainger. Assistants: Alastair Mather, Paul McAvinue. Fourth Official: Iain Snedden.
Report: James Christie.
