Dundee travel to Cove Rangers on Wednesday for their first ever competitive match between the sides in the Betfred Cup and here we round up everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Match Info
FIXTURE: Cove Rangers v Dundee
COMPETITION: Betfred Cup Group D
DATE: Wednesday 17th July 2019
KICK OFF: 7.45pm
VENUE: Balmoral Stadium
Ticketing Information
Adults £12
Concessions £6
There are a limited number of tickets left and they are available from the Ticket Office in Dundee Direct or by telephone on 01382 889966.
Opposition Info
FORMED: 1922
STADIUM: Balmoral Stadium
CAPACITY: 2,602
PITCH SIZE: 105m x 68m
MANAGER: Paul Hartley
CHAIRMAN: Keith Moorhouse
NICKNAMES: The Wee Rangers; The Toonsers
CLUB COLOURS: Blue and white
HONOURS: Highland Football League winners: 2000/01, 2007/08, 2008/09,
2012/13, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19
SPFL League Two Play-Off winners: 2018/19
Highland League Cup winners: 1994/95, 1999/2000, 2004/05,
2014/15, 2016/17, 2018/19
Aberdeenshire Cup winners: 2001/02, 2010/11, 2018/19
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) winners: 1990/91, 2000/01
RECORD ATTENDANCE: 2,1000 v Deveronvale, Highland League Play-Off 2008/09
RECORD WIN: 11-0 v Nairn County (h), Scottish Qualifying Cup Cup, 5/9/1992
CLUB WEBSITE: www.coverangersfc.com
Getting to the Ground
The full address for sat-nav is as follows: Balmoral Stadium, Wellington Circle, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3JG
By Car / Coach:
As you approach Aberdeen from the south, leave the A90 at the Charlestown Junction and follow Wellington Road until the first roundabout (at Burger King). Take first exit and then a left. Follow the road and go straight over the roundabout at Ikea. The ground is on the left hand side.
By Train:
The nearest train station is Aberdeen which is five miles away. From the Train Station the number 3 bus to Mastrick-Cove can be caught on Guild Street across the road. The fare is £2.60
Match Officials
REFEREE: John McKendrick
ASSISTANT REFEREE: David Roome
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Ivan Stankovic
Head to Head v Cove Rangers
The sides have never met in a competitive game although the Dundee U20s met Cove Rangers in the Irn-Bru Cup first round in August 2016 which Cove won 2-1 at Station Park, Forfar
Last Four Dundee v Cove Rangers Matches
- 11/7/2015 | Away | Friendly | Won 1-0 | 173 | McGowan
- 22/7/2012 | Away | Friendly | Won 5-1 | 428 | Baird (2), Webster, Conroy, Riley
- 22/7/2006 | Away | Friendly | Won 3-1 | 257 | Shevlin, Mann, McLaren
- 23//7/1998 | Away | Friendly | Won 3-2 | 120 | O’Driscoll (pen), Rae, McDermott
Last Meeting(s)
When Dundee last faced Cove Rangers in 2015 The Dark Blues won 1-0 thanks to a screamer from Paul McGowan but it was a very much a second string as The Dee’s first team were on a training camp in Hungary
The last time a full strength Dundee last faced Cove Rangers therefore was in a pre-season friendly in July 2012 and ran out 5-1 winners in a match in which striker John Baird grab his first goals for the club. Baird started and finished the scoring as Dundee recorded their third victory of pre-season.
Manager Barry Smith made three changes to the starting line up from last weekend’s friendly against Dundee United. Two of them were forced changes with central midfield pairing Kevin McBride and captain Stephen O’Donnell missing out on the trip North through injury.
Graham Webster and a trialist striker replaced them in the first eleven. The other change saw Kyle Benedictus taking up a spot in central defence and Declan Gallagher dropping to the bench.
The match was played out on the tight pitch of Allan Park and there was little space to get the ball down and pass it early on. The first sniff of an attack saw Nicky Riley cross the ball towards the trialist but Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie rushed from goal to collect.
Cove’s first chance came after a determined run from Jordan Leydon who cut inside before shooting wide with a low effort. Soon after, Stirling Smith struck another shot for Cove wide of the post before Dundee turned up the pressure.
Irvine played in the trialist up the line who had time to take a touch in behind the defence and get a shot away but McKenzie pushed it away. John Baird then came close to his first Dundee goal with a header which was cleared off the line but his wait was not to be much longer.
Two minutes later he had given Dundee the lead. Ryan Conroy played a low ball across and Baird was first onto it before rounding McKenzie and tapping into the empty net.
With little room to create chances, neither keeper was troubled again before Dundee doubled their lead. It came again from a wide position this time, Riley on the right the provider.
The winger picked out Graham Webster who headed into the corner of the net for his first goal for the club since last pre season.
Webster’s goal saw Dundee in at the break with a comfortable lead but the Highland League side started the second half quicker and it was them who struck first to get back in the game.
Martin Johnston took the ball past Benedictus and as the ball ran into space infront of him, his team mate Leydon latched onto it and slotted under Rab Douglas.
The game was more open in the second half and Dundee’s first chance came when Baird flicked the ball into Riley’s path but the winger shot wide.
Cove got forward next with Douglas holding a low deflected shot from Singer.
Dundee’s next attack saw a reverse of the previous with this time Riley laying the ball off for Baird home turned over from 12 yards out.
The trialist striker had the ball in the net after 67 minutes but the flag was already up. That was to be his last involvement as a minute later he was replaced by Leighton McIntosh.
Cove had at times looked like levelling the score throughout the half but two quick goals from Dundee would kill off the game as a contest, the first a trade mark free kick from Conroy.
McKenzie didn’t even move as Conroy curled the ball up and over the wall from 25 yards out. An a minute later it was 4-1. Conroy heavily involved again, beating his man and crossing for McIntosh who flicked on to Riley, unmarked at the back post he slotted home.
Dundee made two further changes with Conroy being replaced by Jamie Reid and Greg Birmingham made his first team debut coming on for McIntosh who had picked up a knock.
There was still time for Dundee to grab a fifth. Riley played the ball through the middle for Baird to run onto and he made no mistake lifting the ball over Cove sub keeper Capstick to complete the scoring.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Yule, Lawrie, Beagrie, Redford, Black, Singer, Johnston, Leydon, Emslie, Smith.
Subs – Stott, McKenzie, Taylor, McCulloch, Capstick.
Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Davidson, McGregor, Benedictus, Riley, Webster, Trialist (McIntosh (Birmingham)), Baird, Conroy (Reid).
Unused Subs- Gibson, Gallagher.
Attendance: 428
Cove Rangers’ Season So Far
After winning the SPFL Pyramid play-off in May, Cove Rangers have been planning for their first ever season in league football and have appointed former Dundee manager Paul Hartley as their new boss.
Cove’s pre season campaign started with a 2-1 home win over former Highland League foes Inverurie Loco Works and followed that up with another 2-1 win over Montrose at the Balmoral Stadium.
Cove then faced Montrose’s Angus rivals Forfar at Station Park and ran The Loons close in a 2-1 defeat.
Cove’s competitive season started on Saturday against Peterhead in the Betfred Cup and despite taking the lead at the Balmoor Stadium went down by two goals to one.
Top Scorers
COVE RANGERS: Masson 1
DUNDEE: Nelson 2; Curran 1
Matchday Programme
Cove’s 32 page match programme is available to buy at the ground for £2 or download from their website.
How To Watch
The full ninety minutes of the match will be available to every subscriber of DeeTV along with a highlights package and exclusive post match interviews with the manager and players following the match.
The pre-match press conference is also available to view on DeeTV from Monday.
