Dundee’s first home game in 34 days ended in a 2-2 draw against Livingston, with a lively first 20 minutes encompassing almost all the action. Two early goals from Simon Murray were quickly answered by Livingston, while a Cameron Congreve shot came millimetres away from giving Dundee another late win over the West Lothian side.
The Dark Blues came into the game having failed to score a goal in three successive league matches since the derby victory in early January.
For a team struggling in the final third, it only took two minutes for captain Simon Murray to end his own goal drought.
A corner whipped in by Yan Dhanda was knocked on by Tony Yogane and fell at MURRAY’s feet. Having not scored since the first Dens Park fixture against Livingston in September, the captain swiftly poked home for his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later, it was Murray again. Brad Halliday’s rapid throw-in to Cameron Congreve led to the Welshman beating former Dundee-loanee Ryan McGowan and delivering a well-placed cross for MURRAY to calmly head in.
While it all looked good on the goal front for the Dee, Livingston quickly began testing Dundee’s defence.
In the fifteenth minute, Ethan Hamilton was closed down within Livingston’s half, leaving Lewis Smith to lead a counterattack. Quick interplay with Robbie Muirhead left the ball back into SMITH’s feet, whose shot deflected off Dhanda and into the net off John McCracken’s far post.
Livingston had another golden chance two minutes later, as a brilliant ball from Smith found the feet of Macaulay Tait, whose shot grazed the outside of McCracken’s post.
Dundee’s rocket start quickly turned from delight to horror. Not five minutes from Smith’s goal, McCracken received a pass back from Halliday. Dundee’s number one lost the ball after pressure from Muirhead, leaving Scott PITTMAN to slot the ball into an empty net.
Dundee’s problems were still to come as Halliday went down injured after contact with Cristian Montaño. Unable to continue, the January signing from Bradford was replaced by Imari Samuels, with Drey Wright moving to right back.
As the first half drew to a close, Dundee saw a couple efforts almost put them ahead at the break. A brilliant threaded ball by Ryan Astley found Congreve in the box, whose low shot was saved by Livingston keeper Jérôme Prior.
The second half could not match the excitement of the first, with both teams having several chances with minimal end product.
A decent chance came when Scott Wright, who had replaced Tony Yogane at the break, received the ball from Cam Congreve on the edge of the box. His quick feet found Hamilton, who was unable to recreate his Celtic Park heroics as his shot narrowly deflected wide.
Dundee were millimetres away from claiming victory right at the death, as Congreve’s low shot squirmed under Prior, with the Frenchman clawing the ball off the line just in time.
The result leaves Dundee in ninth place, moving back one place ahead of St Mirren after the Paisley side’s 2-0 loss to Hibernian.
The Dark Blues will return to the road as they face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday 21 February.
Dundee 4-1-4-1
Jon McCracken
Brad Halliday (Samuels 32), Ryan Astley, Luke Graham, Drey Wright
Ethan Hamilton
Cameron Congreve (Charlie Reilly 79), Yan Dhanda (Callum Jones 46), Joel Cotterill (Charlie Reilly 69), Tony Yogane (Scott Wright 46)
Simon Murray (c)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Paul Digby, Aldahir Valenzuela, Imari Samuels, Lewis Montsma, Joe Bevan
Booked: Ryan Astley, Scott Wright
Livingston 3-5-2
Jérôme Prior
Brooklyn Kabongolo, Danny Wilson, Ryan McGowan (c)
Daniel Finlayson, Scott Pittman, Emmanuel Danso (Stevie May 63), Macaulay Tait (Mohamed Sylla 79), Cristian Montaño (Cameron Kerr 46)
Lewis Smith (Alex Mathias Tamm 85), Robbie Muirhead (Jeremy Bokila 79)
Unused subtitutes: Jamie Smith (gk), Sam Culbert, Andrew Shinnie, Jannik Wanner
Booked: Jeremy Bokila
Referee: Nick Walsh. Assistants: Daniel McFarlane, Frank Connor. VAR: Andrew Dallas. Assistant VAR: Graeme Leslie
Report: Tom H. Wilson
