Dundee played out a 1-1 draw with a youthful Blackburn Rovers team tonight at the Kilmac Stadium in the last of the Dark Blues’ pre-season friendlies. Ashley Phillips put Rovers ahead in the first half but Alex Jakubiak equalised for the Dee three minutes later. Both sides had chances in the second half of a competitive friendly and it would not have been a surprise if either side had snatched a later winner.
Dundee took the chance to field three trialists, Tyler Frost, who played wide left and central midfielders Kyle Barker and Callum Rowe.
Rovers took the initiative from the start, giving the Dee no time on the ball and moving quickly into attack. However, it was Dundee who were first to go close when Frost’s free kick struck a defender and flew narrowly past the post.
Blackburn were soon back on the attack and former Aberdeen man Ryan Hedges sent Harry Leonard clear, but Harry Sharp reacted quickly for a fine save.
The Dee survived a scramble following a free kick when Rovers players were queueing up to shoot. The Dark Blues couldn’t clear and Adam Wharton’s shot was deflected past the post.
Dundee’s midfield found it hard to get into the game against Rovers’ quick movement and sharp tackling.
It was no surprise when Blackburn took the lead after 33 minutes. Ashley PHILLIPS rose at the far post to meet a corner and his header struck Rowe on its way into the net.
The Dark Blues delighted the supporters with a rapid equaliser. With no apparent danger to Rovers’ goal Alex JAKUBIAK caught out the visitors with a low rocket from 25 yards into the corner of the net.
Dundee made four changes at half time. Ian Lawlor, Ryan Sweeney, Paul McGowan and Luke McCowan came on for Harry Sharp, Tyler French, Max Anderson and Josh Mulligan.
Ian Lawlor was quickly in action saving well with his feet from Tayo Edun. That was the last good chance for over 20 minutes. The game was now far more even than in the first half. The Dee were keeping Rovers at bay more effectively, but it took a while before they were seriously threatening the visitors’ goal.
The Dark Blues made four more changes just after the hour mark. Niall McGinn, Paul McMullan, Shaun Byrne and Fin Robertson replaced Alex Jakubiak and the three trialists.
The game burst into life with 20 minutes to go when Dundee had a series of lucky escapes, though Ian Lawlor deserves great credit for keeping Rovers out. The keeper made fine saves in quick succession from Joe Rankin-Costello and Adam Wharton. He saved again from Ryan Hedges who hit the top of crossbar a minute later with a fierce shot from 25 yards.
Dundee hit back with a fast attack and Jordan Marshall sent a beautiful pass inside the right wing back giving Paul McMullan the chance to run in from the left and curl a shot against the crossbar.
The two Dark Blue fullbacks, Cammy Kerr and Jordan Marshall, were replaced by Lyall Cameron and Luke Strachan for the last 13 minutes. Sam Fisher was therefore the only Dee to play the full 90 minutes. Much of the play was on the Dundee right and Cameron did well covering in defence and also taking part effectively in attacks.
Rovers’ last chance fell to Rovers’ substitute Lenni Rae Cirino who ran onto a long pass but couldn’t beat Lawlor with his shot.
The Dark Blues came close to a late winner at the end of a fast break. McGinn’s cross shot pushed round the post by keeper Aynsley Pears. Sadly the goalie got no credit from the referee for a fine save. A goal kick was awarded to the fury of the Dee support in the Bobby Cox Stand behind the goal.
Blackburn might have fielded a young side, but this was a step up in quality from the teams that the Dee have faced so far this season. Rovers’ energy and movement provided a tough test but Dundee did enough to claim that a draw was a fair outcome. This will surely count as a good workout before the players get back to competive action at Stranraer on Saturday.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Sharp
Kerr (Cameron 77), French (Sweeney at half time), Fisher, Marshall (Strachan 77)
Rowe-trialist (Byrne 64), Barker-trialist (Robertson 64)
Mulligan (McCowan at half time), Anderson (McGowan at half time), Frost-trialist (McGinn 61)
Jakubiak (McMullan 61)
Unused subs: none.
Goal: Jakubiak (36)
Booked: Marshall (foul on Hedges).
Blackburn Rovers 3-5-2
Pears
Magloire (Pike 77), Phillips (Annesley 60), Barnes
Rankin-Costello (Saadi 86), Garrett, Adam Wharton (Harlock 77), Hedges (c) (Batty 86), Edun (Cirino 77)
Markanday (Burns 77), Leonard (Butterworth 77)
Unused subs: Eastham (gk), Hilton, Wood.
Goal: Phillips (33).
Booked: none.
Attendance: 1,387 (148 Rovers supporters).
Report: James Christie.
