The Dark Blues recorded their third successive win in the Premier Sports Cup with a 2-1 win away to Queen’s Park. Alex Jakubiak and Cammy Kerr gave the Dee a deserved two goal lead at half time. After Louis Longridge pulled a goal back early in the second half Dundee wasted a series of great opportunities to settle the match. The Dee’s carelessness in front of goal might have been costly but they hung on to take charge of group H. With one game to go the Dark Blues are three points clear with maximum points from their three games.
There were two changes to the Dee’s starting line-up. Max Anderson and Josh Mulligan came in for Fin Robertson and Paul McMullan, who were on the bench.
The Dark Blues started on the front foot and spent the first five minutes attacking, but without any end product. The Spiders had the first two shots, both from Grant Savoury, and both well over the bar from outside the penalty area.
Most of the attacking was still from the Dee, but Queen’s Park were pressing and covering well, restricting Dundee’s opportunities.
The Dee came agonisingly close to taking the lead after 15 minutes. Niall McGinn played a second ball in following a corner. Ryan Sweeney’s powerful close range header looked a certain goal, but ex-Dee Calum Ferrie somehow managed to push the ball against the underside of the bar.
Queen’s Park gave the Dee defence a few tricky moments without creating real chances. The nearest came when Savoury let a cross run through to Simon Murray who couldn’t control the ball 12 yards from goal.
Spiders’ defender Charlie Fox slipped on the half way line. Alex Jakubiak nicked the ball from him and ran past Lee Kilday and in on goal, but delayed his shot too long, allowing Fox to get back and block.
Referee Willie Collum called a two minute water break in the middle of the first half, and the Dee certainly looked refreshed when the match restarted.
The opening goal arrived after 31 minutes. Max Anderson volleyed from a corner but Ferrie again saved well. Ferrie pulled off another good save to keep out Tyler French’s follow up, but Alex JAKUBIAK brought the pinball session to a close when his header found the back of the net.
Josh Mulligan almost added a quick second when he nodded Paul McGowan’s long pass into his stride and raced in on goal, only to hit his fierce shot over the bar.
The second goal was delayed only a minute and it was a collector’s item. Dundee played a short corner and Niall McGinn sent Paul McGowan to the byline. The number 10 skipped along the line past two challenges and crossed low for Cammy KERR to score with a ferocious left foot shot into the top corner.
The Dee almost repeated the move when McGowan was again sent to the byline, but Jakubiak’s shot from the cross was blocked.
Ben Williamson and Paul McMullan started the second half, replacing Paul McGowan and Niall McGinn.
The Dee were straight back onto the attack. Jakubiak netted from a fast attack, but was flagged for offside – very tight decision. Another Jakubiak shot from an Anderson cross was blocked as the Dee constantly threatened to extend their lead.
Against the run of play Queen’s Park pulled a goal back when the Dee switched off, allowing half time substitute Louis LONGRIDGE to run in from the right and crash an angled shot high into the net.
The goal after 51 minutes gave Queen’s Park a boost and they were menacing whenever they attacked from then until the final whistle.
Nevertheless it was still the Dee who were the more dangerous team and they kept working their way into great positions without being able to find the finishing pass or touch.
Time and again Dundee would attack at speed down the wings or through the middle without making the crucial final pass.
Murray had a shot from 18 yards that took an awkward deflection but Sharp saved well for a corner. The young Dee keeper stood up well under tough pressure at set pieces. There was one free kick when he couldn’t gather the ball, but his defence covered.
Dundee continued to build threatening attacks, without being able to find the third goal. Williamson spun on a Marshall cross in front of goal, but was denied by a great last ditch tackle by Fox.
Jakubiak raced onto a through pass by Anderson, breezing past the last defender, but shot wide.
McMullan pounced on a loose pass across the defence and ran clear, but his shot was too close to Ferrie who saved.
In the last 15 minutes the game became increasingly open but scrappy with both teams guilty of giving the ball away.
Savoury had a go from 20 yards for the Spiders and his shot flew wide after striking a defender.
Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan came on for Alex Jakubiak and Max Anderson and helped keep the Dee’s attacks flowing toward the Spiders’ goal, but Dundee couldn’t find the goal that would have allowed the supporters to relax.
In injury time Paul McMullan had a goal disallowed in strange circumstances. He ran up behind Ferrie as the keeper was about to throw the ball out. Ferrie’s backswing caught the Dee, the ball fell loose and McMullan scored. Referee Willie Collum decided it was a foul on the goalie and booked McMullan.
In the last worrying moment for the Cammy Kerr scrambled away a dangerous low cross from the right and the final whistle blew with Dundee pushing for the elusive third goal that never came. The Dark Blues were worth their win but really should have made it more comfortable. Queen’s Park were difficult opponents and on another day might well have punished the Dee’s wastefulness.
Gary Bowyer will certainly have learned a lot from tonight’s game against stronger opponents than Dundee have faced so far in the cup. The defence held their nerve and kept Queen’s Park out after conceding a goal. The midfield was creative on the ball, playing some good football. The Dee attacks were often fluent and confident until the last moment, when they almost alway fell away disappointingly.
Despite the carping, a win at Queen’s Park is unquestionably a very good and welcome result. The Spiders will be very difficult opponents in the Championship this season.
Dundee now face Forfar in the final group game on Saturday when they have the chance to win group H and move into the last 16.
Queen’s Park 4-2-3-1
Ferrie
Davidson (Bannon 85), Kilday (Naismith 64), Fox, Robson
Thomson (Longridge at half time), Brown
Jarrett, Savoury, Thomas (Moore 75)
Murray (Williamson 75)
Unused subs: Heraghty (gk), Gillies, Bruce, Biggar.
Goal: Longridge (51).
Booked: none.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Sharp
Kerr, Sweeney (c), French, Marshall
Byrne, Anderson (McCowan 80)
Mulligan, McGowan (Williamson at half time), McGinn (McMullan at half time)
Jakubiak (Cameron 80)
Unused subs: Lawlor (gk), Robertson, Strachan, Fisher.
Goals: Jakubiak (31), Kerr (36).
Booked: McMullan (foul on Ferrie).
Attendance: 570.
Referee: Willie Collum. Assistants: David Dunne, Sean Murdoch.
Report: James Christie.
