The Dark Blues went down to a 4-0 defeat at the Dens Park Stadium against Everton this afternoon. Beto put the Toffees ahead late in the first half, and in the last 21 minutes Everton added three more goals from Thierno Barry, Harvey Foster, and Dwight McNeil. Despite the scoreline Dundee handled their English Premier League opponents well for most of the game, but were undone by mistakes trying to play out from the back.
Everton almost took an early lead when Kieran O’Hara allowed a simple backpass to slip under his boot, but the keeper recovered in time to prevent the ball crossing the line.
The Toffees largely controlled the game during the first half without having things all their own way. Everton passed their way around the Dundee half probing for openings, but the Dark Blues kept their shape and concentration to hold them at bay.
Owen Bevan twice made decisive last ditch tackles to stop Everton when they did break into the Dee penalty area. The first to stop Tyrique George was relatively straightforard. The second, as Beto shaped to shoot, was the sort of decisive goal saving tackle that delights supporters.
Dundee regularly played their way into promising positions and managed some threatening efforts. Ethan Hamilton and Charlie Reilly had shots from the edge of the penalty area but their efforts were blocked or too high.
Everton took the lead late in the half when BETO spun to shoot from 18 yards. His shot took a deflection off Aaron Donnelly that left the diving O’Hara helpless.
Tyrique George almost scored a quick second with another deflected shot but this one flew narrowly past the post.
Dundee made seven changes at half time, with only Aaron Donnelly, Charley Oosenbrugh, Zan Besir and Joe Westley staying on. One of the substitutes, Alan Forrest, tried to catch out Tom King, the Toffee’s replacement goalkeeper, but put too much power into his shot over the keeper and cleared the bar.
Everton went close when George Finney fired a dangerous low ball across goal and Braiden Graham couldn’t quite reach it for a tap in.
The second half was played at a relaxed pace with Dundee holding their own in open play. Everton made seven changes after 61 minutes, when the Dark Blues made their final two changes; Simon Murray and Ethan Crombie replaced Joe Westley and Zan Besir. The pattern of the game didn’t change, but the Toffees ran away with the game thanks to a series of defensive errors.
After 69 minutes Harry Sharp hesitated on the ball and Thierno BARRY blocked his attempted pass to send the ball looping into the net.
Ash Hay almost pulled a goal back for the Dee when he took Fin Robertson’s pass and shot from 12 yards. King denied him with a superb save at full stretch.
In the last 10 minutes Everton added two more goals that were almost identical. Sharp sent a pass straight to Harvey FOSTER, who shot into the empty net. A few minutes later Ryan Astley gave Sharp an awkward pass back, and the keeper’s pass was blocked by Malik Olayiwola and Carlos Alcaraz quickly passed sideways to give Dwight McNEIL an open goal.
Playing an established English Premier League team like Everton, even early in their pre-season preparations, was a tough challenge for Dundee. The final score was emphatic, but the Dark Blues acquitted themselves well. The defensive line held up well under Everton’s pressure and the midfield worked hard, denying the Toffees’ easy space, and playing some neat football when they could.
This was very much a learning experience for the Dundee team. The mistakes that led to such a heavy defeat probably came from attempts to play the ball out from the back when players wouldn’t have tried to do so in a competive match.
That is the final friendly in Dundee’s preparations for the season, and it’s now back to serious competitive action with a tricky looking Premier Sports Cup trip to Dingwall on Tuesday to face Ross County.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1 (first half)
Kieran O’Hara
Charley Oosenbrugh, Owen Bevan, Aaron Donnelly, Idris Odutayo
Ryan Finnigan, Ethan Hamilton
Joe Bevan, Charlie Reilly, Zan Besir
Joe Westley
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1 (second half)
Harrison Sharp
Brad Halliday, Ryan Astley, Aaron Donnelly, Charley Oosenbrugh
Callum Jones, Zan Besir (Ethan Crombie 61)
Ash Hay, Fin Robertson, Alan Forrest
Joe Westley (Simon Murray 61)
Unused sub: Ryan Bland.
Booked: none.
Everton 4-2-3-1 (first 61 minutes)
Mark Travers (Tom King at half time)
Merlin Rohl, Jake O’Brien (James Tarkowski at half time), Michael Keane, Adam Anzou
Tim Iroegbonum, Harrison Armstrong
Tyler Dibling, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Dwight McNeil at half time), Tyrique George
Beto (Carlos Alcaraz at half time)
Everton 4-2-3-1 (61 minutes onwards)
Tom King
George Finney, James Tarkowski, Will Tamen, Eli Campbell
Harvey Foster, Malik Olayiwola
Dwight McNeil, Carlos Alcaraz, Braiden Graham
Thierno Barry
Unused subs: Joel Catesby.
Goals: Beto (38), Barry (69), Foster (82), McNeil (89).
Booked: none.
Attendance: 4,392.
Referee: Unnamed replacement for Colin Steven. Assistants: Jonathon Bell, Craig Ferguson.
Report: James Christie.
