Dundee completed their Premier Sports Cup group D campaign with a 4-0 home win against Clyde. The Bully Wee frustrated Dundee throughout a first half in which the Dark Blues never quite clicked into gear. Alan Forrest and Joe Westley came off the bench at half time and changed the game. Three minutes into the second half Forrest opened the scoring with a fine goal. Simon Murray scored from the penalty spot, and Joe Westley scored two late goals, both well taken. In the last 30 minutes the Dee managed to run away with a game in which they had toiled for long stages.
There were four changes to the Dundee team following the midweek draw at Ross County. Brad Halliday and Aaron Donnelly came into the defence. Zan Besir started in an advanced midfield role with Simon Murray taking the lead in attack. They replaced Idris Odutayo, Owen Bevan, Fin Robertson, and Ash Hay, who were all named as substitutes.
Dundee had the better of the first half without being able to find the composure and decisiveness in the final third to set up enough clear opportunities, or to convert the chances they did create. Too many moves ground to a halt when the Dark Blues couldn’t move the ball quickly enough to open up the Bully Wee.
Charlie Reilly switched briefly to the right and combined cleverly with Joe Bevan before sending an inviting cross into the goalmouth but Simon Murray headed wide from a golden chance. Reilly played in Zan Besir whose shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs. Besir then set up Bevan who guided his effort inches past the post.
Drey Wright figured prominently supporting the early attacks and he almost scored with a volley from 30 yards that flew off the top of the crossbar. Clyde keeper Jay Hogarth saved well from Murray’s powerful 15 yard shot that was perhaps aimed too close to the goalie.
Bevan was a constant threat to the left side of the Clyde defence and he caused consternation with a late run in from the touchline. In keeping with the rest of the half a promising moment fizzled out when he couldn’t get a cross or shot away.
Dundee were dominating possession and doing most of the attacking, but Clyde posed problems for the Dee defence when they were able to venture forward. They were helped by some slack play by the Dark Blues that might well have been punished. The Dark Blues’ habit of giving the ball away led to some totally avoidable scares in their own penalty area. Late in the half sloppiness at the back allowed Clyde to have two dangerous shots that were blocked.
It was no surprise that Steven Pressley made two changes at half time. Alan Forrest and Joe Westley came on for Charlie Reilly and Zan Besir. Neither of the players who were replaced had been noticeably below par and there were other plausible candidates to stay in the dressing room. However, changes were required to help Dundee increase the pace and create more in attack. The substitions paid off almost immediately.
Three minutes after the restart Dundee finally scored. Murray found FORREST on the left and the winger shimmied in before curling a fine finish across Hogarth and inside the far post, his first goal for the Dee. Forrest tried exactly the same finish a few minutes later and was narrowly off target.
Around the hour mark both teams passed up excellent chances within a minute. The Dark Blues’ defence was caught out by a fast Clyde break and were happy to escape with a corner. When the ball came over former Dee youth player Kyle Fleming had a free header, but missed the target. Dundee went up the park and Wright passed up a great chance, dragging his shot wide from 12 yards.
Clyde were playing well and still in contention so a second Dee goal was vital. That goal arrived after 69 minutes. Forrest’s cross from the byline struck a defender’s arm and referee Matthew MacDermind pointed to the penalty spot. MURRAY scored confidently into the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Five minutes later the third goal arrived. A beautiful fast cross from Wright was crashed home on the volley by WESTLEY at the far post.
The Dark Blues were firmly in control now as Clyde tired and struggled to get near Dundee attackers. Fin Robertson had replaced Ryan Finnigan and he went close twice.
After 83 minutes Dundee completed the scoring with a neatly taken fourth goal. Ryan Astley headed on a long throw and WESTLEY scored with a flick at the near post.
The Dark Blues continued to pile on the pressure and Clyde had some narrow escapes, particulary after Westley worked his way to the byline with some neat skill. His chipped cross gave first Murray, and then Ethan Hamilton chances, but both shots were blocked with desperate goal line clearances.
Dundee’s winning scoreline looks comfortable, but doesn’t give a full picture of a game in which the Dark Blues were dominant, but disappointingly careless at both ends of the park. In the first half a lack of pace and urgency allowed Clyde to hold Dundee at bay. After half time when Dundee attacked with greater purpose and Clyde just couldn’t cope. The Bully Wee were a spent force in the last half hour in which Dundee could easily have run in more goals.
Joe Westley and Alan Forrest deserve credit for the way they imposed themselves on the game and took their goals. It was exactly what we hoped the substitutes would do and they will rightly feel they have made strong cases for a starting place.
The win ensured Dundee will be in the draw for the last 16 of the Premier Sports cup, but failure to beat Ross County in midweek means that the Dee will not be seeded.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Kieran OโHara
Brad Halliday (Idris Odutayo 70), Ryan Astley, Aaron Donnelly, Drey Wright
Ryan Finnigan (Fin Robertson 70), Ethan Hamilton
Joe Bevan (Ash Hay 76), Zan Besir (Joe Westley at half time), Charlie Reilly (Alan Forrest at half time)
Simon Murray (c)
Unused substitutes: Harrison Sharp (gk), Owen Bevan, Charley Oosenbrugh, Ethan Crombie.
Goals: Forrest (48), Murray (69 pen), Westley (75, 83).
Booked: none.
Clyde 4-3-2-1
Hogarth
Hynes (Cruden 58), Inglis, Fleming, Lovering
Rooney, Cuddihy (Kiltie 78), Strachan
Connell (Hilton 54), Redfern
Williamson
Unused subs: Terry (gk).
Booked: none.
Attendance: 1,942.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid. Assistants: Douglas Ross, Jamie Andrews.
Report: James Christie.
