Dundee went down to a 3-1 defeat at Cove Rangers tonight despite taking an early lead. The Dark Blues started confidently and Max Anderson scored after 10 minutes. Early optimism vanished as defensive frailties returned to haunt the Dee. Mitch Megginson equalised midway through the first half and Connor Scully scored a pair of stunning goals shortly after half time. Dundee tried desperately to get back into the game, but lacked the composure and invention to trouble Cove.
Dundee made two changes to the team that started in the win at Hamilton on Saturday. Ben Williamson and Max Anderson came in for Joe Grayson and Josh Mulligan who were on the bench.
Cove had the first goal attempt when Mitch Megginson headed wide at the near post from a cross by Blair Yule. However, that was a rare home attack during an opening 20 minutes in which the Dee tore at their hosts.
Zach Robinson drove through the middle but Kyle Gourlay managed to hold his shot. A minute later a fast passing move down the right ended wnith Ben Williamson’s shot being deflected over the bar.
Dundee took the lead from the resulting corner after 10 minutes. Lee Ashcroft headed down and Max ANDERSON turned the ball into the net from six yards.
The Dark Blues kept attacking Cove, threatening to add to their lead with fast, dangerous attacks while Cove struggled to hold onto the ball.
Paul McMullan surged through the middle and found Robinson, who tucked the ball past Gourlay and into the net, only for the referee to pull play back for a foul on Jack Sanders.
Cove started to work their way back into the game and Megginson tried a shot from 22 yards but hit it straight at Adam Legzdins.
After 27 minutes Cove were back on level terms when the Dee defence failed to handle a free kick into the penalty area. Kyle McClelland headed back into the danger area and Mitch MEGGINSON forced his header home at the back post.
The Dark Blues had the edge over Cove in open play for the remainder of the half, but they could not muster the threat that their early attacks offered.
The best chance in the remainder of the half fell to Cove, shortly before the half time whistle. The ball fell kindly for Cieran Dunne 15 yards from goal, but he blazed wildly over the bar.
At half time Zak Rudden replaced Zach Robinson, who had been frustrated at the lack of protection he was receiving from the referee and had been booked.
The game swung on 30 seconds of action early in the second half. A reckless backpass across goal by Shay Logan almost gifted a goal for Lyall Cameron, but Cove managed to scramble the ball clear. They raced up the park for Dunne to cross from the left. The Dee defence was short handed and out of position, allowing Connor SCULLY space to score with a spectacular hooked volley from eight yards.
Only four minutes later Scully surpassed that goal. Logan crossed from the left. Dundee couldn’t clear, and with his back to goal SCULLY scored with a bicycle kick from 10 yards.
Dundee made a triple substitution, sending on Josh Mulligan, Luke McCowan and Cillian Sheridan for Paul McGowan, Max Anderson and Lyall Cameron.
There was no shortage of effort, but little composure or control. Dundee spent the last half hour frantically chasing the game, but without doing anything to offer the travelling support any hope they might save the game.
The Dark Blues dominated possession and territory, with the ball almost constantly in the home half. But at no stage were they ever in control of the game. The Cove defence worked hard, kept their heads, and prevented Dundee creating real chances till late on.
With Dundee pushing forward there was always the possibility that Cove could catch them on the break. It never happened, but a fourth Cove goal looked every bit as likely as a convincing Dee fightback.
Twice in the later stages Kyle Gourlay saved well from Zak Rudden, following McMullan crosses on each occasion. The first was a well struck shot and the second was a close range header that Gourlay somehow clawed away.
There were five minutes of injury time, but Dundee were too hurried, and too careless to trouble Cove who saw the game out comfortably.
This was uncomfortably reminiscent of previous Dundee defeats. They were in charge, playing well, looking fully capable of going on to take the points. And then they handed the initiative to their opponents and couldn’t regain it.
The first Cove goal was just plain poor. The second and third were outstanding, but better defending on each occasion would have prevented Scully scoring.
Cove’s goals changed the game. So long as Dundee were in the lead they looked good. But when they concede they respond poorly. Dundee’s early control of the game proved to be fragile. If the other team can snatch a goal the game is transformed, and Dundee’s defensive performances have been disappointing on too many occasions this season.
Cove Rangers 4-1-4-1
Gourlay
Johnston, McClelland (Ross 61), Sanders, Logan
Gilmour
Longstaff (Leitch 90), Yule, Scully (Vigurs 84), Dunne
Megginson (c) (McIntosh 90)
Unused subs: McKenzie (gk), Towler, Neill, McDonagh, Reynolds.
Goals: Megginson (27), Scully (50, 54).
Booked: Megginson (blocking free kick).
Dundee FC 4-1-4-1
Legzdins
Kerr, French, Ashcroft, McGhee (c)
Williamson (Marshall 87)
McMullan, Anderson (Mulligan 58), McGowan (Sheridan 58), Cameron (McCowan 58)
Robinson (Rudden at half time)
Unused subs: Sharp (gk), Byrne, Strachan, Grayson.
Goal: Anderson (10).
Booked: Robinson (foul on McClelland), Rudden (confrontaion with Megginson).
Referee: Nick Walsh. Assistants: Steven Traynor, Chris Rae.
Attendance: 1,322.
Report: James Christie.
