The Dark Blues rounded off their pre-season programme with a 2-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park. Antonio Portales and Curtis Main scored with headers from set pieces in the first half. Dundee retained the starting eleven until midway through the second half, and their control of the game only started to slip when the match was disrupted by mass substitutions.
In the first few minutes Dundee twice had the Pars in trouble with energetic high pressing. Curtis Main won the ball close to the penalty area and gave Luke McCowan the chance to try a chip, which lacked the height to beat Deniz Mehmet in the Dunfermline goal. A minute later a brisk tackle by Mo Sylla became a shot and Mehmet scrambled to save on the goal line.
After that bright start the game sunk into a sluggish spell with both sides giving the ball away too often in midfield. Gradually that turned into dominance by the Dark Blues as they stopped conceding cheap possession and started to build moves from turnovers in midfield.
Wing backs Ethan Ingram and Charlie Reilly came into the game and caused Dunfermline repeated problems running at the home defence and targeting space behind their opposing wing backs. The Dee midfield began to dictate play, passing their way smoothly into the final third.
Dundeeā€™s attacks produced a series of corners from deflected shots. Set pieces finally allowed the Dee to turn their control of the game into a two goal lead at half time.
A corner by McCowan was returned to the Dee skipper who was fouled on the right touchline as he tried to turn past David Wotherspoon. McCowan took the free kick, hitting a fine delivery at pace towards the near post and Antonio PORTALES scored with a neat header.
Dundee played their best football of the match in the later stages of the first half. Clever passing and aggressive running by the wing backs stretched Dunfermline.
A fine move ended with Tiffoneyā€™s shot being deflected for a corner. Tiffoney took it and swung the ball to the far post when Curtis MAIN rose to head home.
The Pars made four substitutions at half time and switched to four at the back. That made them more secure on the flanks and Dunfermline were much livelier in attack during the second half.
Wotherspoon had the first serious goal attempt of the second half and was inches too high when he turned and shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The game became scrappier but more open after the flood of substitutions started. Dundee remained the more dangerous side but when Dunfermline were able to get forward they began to create openings.
Parsā€™ substitutes Jake Sutherland and Kane Ritchie-Hosler both went close with fierce angled shots at the end of good breaks.
Time and again Dundee played their way into good positions, but couldnā€™t get their shots away. After Dunfermline lost possession trying to play out from the back Reilly had space to shoot, but he hammered his shot straight at the keeper.
In the last 10 minutes a young Dunfermline team gave the Dark Blues problems with their pace and enthusiasm. The Pars would have been worth a goal but the Dee defence kept their heads and maintained their clean sheet.
Tonightā€™s win brings the pre-season campaign to a close. Three wins and a draw, and three clean sheets against good opposition sets the Dee up well for the competitive action which starts on Saturday at Bonnyrigg.
Dunfermline Athletic 3-5-2
Mehmet (Trialist at half time)
Fisher (Rowe 84), Benedictus (Hamilton at half time), Breen (Young 68)
Comrie (Hoggan 85), Wotherspoon (Tod 61) Chalmers (Tayor Sutherland at half time), Otoo (McLeod 61), Ngwenya (Trialist 61)
McCann (Sutherland 68), Wighton (Ritchie-Hosler at half time)
Unused subs: none.
Booked: none.
Dundee FC 1st half 3-1-4-2
Carson
Portales, McGhee, Graham (Astley 76)
Trialist (Fin Robertson 66)
Ingram (Kerr 66), Sylla, McCowan, Reilly (Rudden 84)
Main (Palmer-Houlden 66), Tiffoney (Cameron 66)
Unused substitutes: McCracken (gk), Legzdins (gk), Sharp (gk), Lochhead, Murray, Anderson.
Goals: Portales (33), Main (39).
Booked: none.
Referee: Ryan Lee.
Attendance: 893.
Report: James Christie.
