Dundee emerged with a 3-1 victory from a tricky Premier Sports Cup tie against Bonnyrigg Rose in Midlothian. Clark Robertson put the Dee ahead in the first half only for Cameron Ross to score a fine equaliser. Bonnrigg gave as good as they got in the first half but tired after half time. Dundee piled on the pressure, but with little effect for long periods. It took until the 86th minute for substitute Emile Acquah to put the Dark Blues ahead, and Billy Koumetio added a third three minutes later. Imari Samuels provided assists for both goals from fine free kicks.
There were seven changes to the Dundee starting eleven. Only Drey Wright, Paul Digby, Fin Robertson and Simon Murray started both on Saturday and tonight.
Bonnyrigg started confidently and had the better of the early few minutes. A fast break by Rose ended with Jon McCracken saving well from Cameron Ross’s low shot. Bonnyrigg won two corners and a fierce shot by Billy King was blocked by Billy Koumetio.
Dundee responded well and took the game to Bonnyrigg aggressively, winning a string of corners. Ash Hay flicked Drey Wright’s corner narrowly wide at the near post.
The Dark Blues were attacking with greater pace and purpose than on Saturday. It was no surprise when they took the lead after 20 minutes. Ryan Astley’s long throw was headed on by Billy Koumetio. The resulting scramble at the far post ended with Clark ROBERTSON forcing the ball over the line from point blank range.
The game opened up in entertaining fashion, with Dundee continuing to threaten, but Bonnyrigg playing neat, quick football that often found space in the Dee half.
A smart Dee move saw Wright send Fin Robertson in to slip the ball past Ross Connelly in the Rose goal, only for the shot to be cleared off the line.
Bonnyrigg took full advantage of the escape and went straight up the park to equalise in the 35th minute. Ross showed impressive skill to hold the ball and swing a fine pass out to Kallum Higginbotham in space on the right. The cross was accurate, and ROSS stooped to meet it with an equally precise header from 10 yards into McCracken’s bottom corner.
Dundee went straight back on to the attack and should have regained the lead before half time from any of a stream of promising attacks. Connelly saved well from Murray, and Ash Hay blasted a shot over the bar following good pressing by Murray to set up the chance.
The second half started promisingly with a fierce 20 yard shot by Cesar Garza which Connelly did well to turn over for a corner. What followed was an uncomfortable 20 minutes in which Dundee attacked relentlessly, but ineffectually. The Dark Blues kept trying to mount fast attacks, but the only result was that they lost the ball quickly with misplaced passes.
Dundee made four substitutions after 63 minutes. Emile Acquah, Imari Samuels, Tony Yogane, and Callum Jones replaced Ash Hay, Ethan Ingram, Fin Robertson and Paul Digby.
The changes started to produce an improvement. Dundee were now creating chances, but frustratingly they couldn’t convert any. Callum Jones had a couple of shots, one too high, and then the other flew straight at the keeper.
A good cross by Emile Acquah was met by Samuels’ volley at the far post, but Connelly somehow pawed the ball clear from almost over the line. Murray headed wide from Wright’s cross at the end of a good move down the right. Murray fired over after pulling down a cross by Tony Yogane and turning to shoot.
The frantic Dundee pressure continued for 20 minutes before the Dark Blues finally broke through after 86 minutes. Imari Samuels flighted over a cross from the left and ACQUAH headed home neatly at the far post – his first competitive goal for the Dee.
Three minutes later Samuels provided an identical assist for the third goal. This time his free kick allowed Billy KOUMETIO to score with a powerful header. That was his first Dundee goal too.
The game ended with Dundee pushing for more goals against a Bonnyrigg side who had made life extremely uncomfortable for the Dark Blues, but who ran out of steam in the final half hour.
The main positive from tonight was that the attacking was faster and more dangerous. The negatives were worrying, however. Too many attacks, particularly in the first hour lacked composure and any end product. Even when Dundee did improve in the last 30 minutes it was against exhausted opponents, and the finishing was disappointing.
Dundee were always dangerous from set pieces, but it is a worry that yet again they couldn’t score from open play. There is a clear need for improvement there.
Dundee’s defence in the first half had some uncomfortable moments as Bonnyrigg repeatedly found space when attacking and passing their way into shooting positions. Rose were well worth their goal, and it was from the sort of move that the Dark Blues were unable to pull off successfully.
This was a better performance than Saturday’s, but that is a very low bar. It would not have been good enough in a league game. A great deal of improvement is still needed. A final word of praise for Bonnyrigg Rose is in order. They were a far better team than the one that shipped seven goals against the Dark Blues this time last year.
Bonnyrigg Rose 4-3-3
Ross Connelly
Laing, Callum Connolly, Martyniuk, Somerville (Hogg 66)
King (Forbes at half time), Currie, Dowling (Beveridge 79)
Higginbotham (Speirs at half time), Ross, Bryce (Fellows 66)
Unused subs: Anderson (gk), 14 Trialist.
Goal: Ross (33).
Booked: Martyniuk (foul on Acquah), Ross (foul on Ingram), Dowling (kicking ball away), Beveridge (foul on Yogane), Forbes (foul on Wright) .
Dundee FC 4-4-2
Jon McCracken
Ethan Ingram (Samuels 62), Ryan Astley, Clark Robertson, Billy Koumetio
Fin Robertson (Yogane 62), Paul Digby (Jones 62), Cesar Garza, Drey Wright
Ash Hay (Acquah 62), Simon Murray (c)
Unused substitutes: Harry Sharp, Luke Donnelly, Luke Graham, Plamen Galabov, Victor Lopez.
Goal: Clark Robertson (20), Acquah (86), Koumetio (89).
Booked: Digby (foul on Bryce).
Attendance: 853 (424 Dees).
Referee: Peter Stuart. Assistants: Ross Nelson, Stuart Stevenson.
Report: James Christie.
