An outstanding performance by the Dark Blues gave them a richly deserved 2-0 victory over Aberdeen at Dens Park this afternoon. Joe Westley gave Dundee an early lead in a first half in which the Dee’s attackers shredded the Dons defence time and again. Somehow Aberdeen were only one goal behind at the break, but man of the match Joe Bevan made it 2-0 after 56 minutes. Aberdeen tried to fight back, but the Dee defence held strong and Dundee could well have added more goals on the break. The final scoreline flattered the Dons. At the final whistle the Dundee players received the standing ovation they deserved from the supporters who lapped up this win with delight.
Unsurpisingly the Dark Blues were unchanged following their narrow defeat at Celtic Park on Monday night. That decision by Steven Pressley was certainly rewarded.
Aberdeen kicked off and dominated possession for the first few minutes without threatening the Dee goal. However, once the Dark Blues got on the ball they clicked moved smoothly into top gear and ripped into the Dons defence for the rest of the game. At no stage were Aberdeen comfortable against Dundee’s attacking.
Joe Bevan had the first shot when his effort flashed wide of the near post after Simon Murray won the ball wide on the right.
In the ninth minute Dundee took the lead with a goal of classy simplicity. Charlie Reilly carried the ball across from the left and his pass gave Joe Bevan the chance to run at his full back on the right. Instead Bevan checked back and flighted a perfect cross with his left foot for Joe WESTLEY to run in and score with a precise glancing volley inside the far post.
Dundee were far faster, more imaginative and agressive in every sense than a disjointed and disorganised Aberdeen team. Joe Bevan, in particular, terrorised the Dons.
The Dee should have been two up after 20 minutes when Aberdeen’s defence went into snooze mode. Everyone in a red shirt ignored the ball as it drifted on the edge of the penalty area. Westley helped himself and ran in on goal, but keeper Marius Müller pulled off an excellent save. Reilly was next to pass up a great chance. Murray set up Reilly but he curled his shot from 12 yards over the bar.
The Dark Blues were well on top, but the Dons almost equalised from a corner. Dan Happe’s header at the far post was kept out by Owen Goodman, with the possible assistance of the crossbar.
Within a minute Dundee came close to a second. Joe Bevan burnt past a static Dons defence, drew the keeper, but got his feet in a tangle and made a mess of his attempted pass across goal to give Westley a tap in. Bevan had the last chance of the half. At the end of a patient, probing attack he cut inside to shoot, but Müller saved well.
After that superb attacking display in the first half from the dominant Dark Blues it was no surprise that Aberdeen made two substitutions at half time. The Dons had been a shambles and fortunate to be only one goal behind. They sent on Lewis Smith and Ayoub Mouloula for Tony Yogane and Areza Aremu.
Aberdeen were better in the second half and forced the Dee defence to work harder. However, the Dons attacking left space that this Dundee team was fully capable of exploiting. The Dark Blues were always the more dangerous side in attack.
Reilly put in a good deep cross that Drey Wright met on the volley beyond the far post, but a desperate defensive block turned the ball out for a corner.
Finally, in the 56th minute Dundee scored the second goal they richly deserved to give themselves a cushion. Reilly chipped over a cross from the left. It flicked off Lewis Mayo’s head into the path of Joe BEVAN, who took a touch before rifling a left foot shot past Müller from 15 yards. It was a beautiful finish.
Aberdeen didn’t give up and pushed forward. They worked some good openings and even chances, but their play was frantic and desperate rather than composed and confident.
Fin Robertson and Ash Hay came on for Charlie Reilly and Simon Murray, who had both made hugely important contributions. The changes helped Dundee to keep playing the high tempo game that was winning the game for the Dee.
Midway through the half the Dee had an escape when Chris Cadden cracked a shot off the crossbar from Toyosi Olusunya’s cross. Happe again managed to get on the end of a corner and Goodman blocked with his feet.
Those were the big two moments in the Dee penalty area that went Dundee’s way. In between those two scares Hay couldn’t convert a great chance when he ran clear onto Goodman’s long clearance. Müller saved again. Aberdeen’s chaotic defending allowed Ethan Hamilton to take possession by the corner flag and cross for Hay, who shot just past the near post.
Alan Forrest came on for Joe Bevan and the substitutes’ fresh legs set up two dangerous Dee breaks, one of which should have brought the third goal. Robertson sent over a perfect cross for Hay, whose header was too close to Müller who saved well. The next break ground to a halt when Forrest couldn’t find a team mate with the final ball.
Dundee defended superbly in the later stages and snuffed out any hope Aberdeen might have had. In four minutes of added time the question was only whether the Dark Blues would find the third goal their performance deserved. There was one incident in added time that summed up Dundee’s dominance and their defensive performance. Ryan Astley used his strength to hold off Ayoub Mouloua and let the ball run dead over the goal line. The Dees in the stand loved it and roared their approval.
Astley and Owen Bevan were excellent throughout. Drey Wright and Idris Odutayo were solid at the back and supported the attacks effectively. Ethan Hamilton and Ryan Finnigan bossed the midfield. The four forward players all gave superb performances, putting in a breathtaking amount of work, and showing imagination and flair. Simon Murray deserves particular credit. His phenomenal work rate belied his age and he looked more like he was 24 years old rather than 34. It was no surprise, however, that Joe Bevan was named man of the match after a fantastic attacking performance that will surely make headlines tomorrow.
Today’s victory over Aberdeen, their third consecutive win over the Dons, was perhaps their best performance in recent years, and certainly in Steven Pressley’s time. The Dark Blues were outstanding all over the park, and how the fans loved it!
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Owen Goodman
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan, Idris Odutayo
Ryan Finnigan (Zan Besir 81), Ethan Hamilton
Joe Bevan (Alan Forrest 77), Joe Westley (Brad Halliday 81), Charlie Reilly (Fin Robertson 65)
Simon Murray (c) (Ash Hay 65)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Charley Oosenbrugh, Ethan Crombie, Ryan Bland.
Goals: Westley (9), Bevan (56).
Booked: Westley (dangerous play).
Aberdeen 4-2-3-1
Müller
Cadden, Mayo (Milne 65), Happe, Guiness-Walker
Aremu (Mouloua at half time), Briedl (Marshall 65)
Olusanya (Fasanya 87), Armstrong, Yogane (Lewis at half time)
Nisbet
Unused subs: Mitov (gk), Devlin, Molloy, Masson.
Booked: Briedl (foul on Reilly), Mayo (foul on Murray), Milne (foul on Hamilton).
Attendance: 8,204.
Referee: Calum Scott. Assistants: David Roome, Chris Gentles.
Report: James Christie.
