Dundee secured their place in next season’s Premiership with a 3-0 over Livingston at Dens Park Stadium. Cameron Congreve gave the Dee an early lead, and the Dark Blues wrapped up the vital three points with second half goals from substitutes Fin Robertson and Ashley Hay. Keeper Kieran O’Hara became a Dee hero on his debut when he saved Robbie Muirhead’s penalty with the score at 2-0.
The only change to the Dee’s starting eleven was Kieran O’Hara keeping his place in goal after coming on for the injured Jon McCracken last week.
The Dark Blues started slowly with Livingston having an edge in the opening 10 minutes. Joe Westley did have a half chance when he ran onto a long ball from Yan Dhanda but he pulled his angled shot wide.
Livingston midfielder Macaulay Tait twice ran into dangerous positions. The first time the Dee defence recovered in time to block him. The second time he got his shot away and it took a good save by Kieran O’Hara to turn the ball out for a corner.
However, it was Dundee who took an early lead when they put their game together to score in the 13th minute. It was a well worked goal at the end of a patient move. Instead of racing down the outside Tony Yogane drifted in from the left and chipped a cross into the goalmouth. Simon Murray headed down for the inrushing Cameron CONGREVE who shot home from close range.
The goal settled the Dark Blues and they were the better side, creating more danger, for the rest of the first half without being fully dominant. Livingston were always lively and capable of playing their way into good positions without having being able to finish off moves.
Dundee had far more quality in attack and always looked capable of adding to their lead. An elaborate corner routine ended with Jerome Prior saving Simon Murray’s shot from 10 yards. Livingston did go close late in the half when Mo Sylla drilled a low cross into the goalmouth that cannoned off a teammate and over the bar. Dundee raced up the park and Congreve’s cross was deflected into the path of Murray, who hooked a good chance over the bar.
The second half offered little excitement for the first 20 minutes. Dundee were more cautious, perhaps too cautious, possibly affected by nerves and the tension. The Dark Blues sat back while Livingston continued to play neat football without any cutting edge, admittedly against a tight and competent Dee defence.
Midway through the second half the Dark Blues made three changes which cranked up the energy levels and proved decisive. Billy Koumetio, Imari Samuels and Fin Robertson came on for Tony Yogane, Brad Halliday and Simon Murray.
Within two minutes of the changes the Dee claimed the vital second goal. Luke Graham disrupted Livingston by carrying the ball deep into the visitors’ half before finding Congreve who cut in from the right to shoot. His shot was blocked but he recovered the ball, drove to the byline and cut a low ball back across goal for Fin ROBERTSON at the far post to smash in goal number two.
With 71 minutes gone Dundee should have been home and hosed, but the Dark Blues have a track record of throwing away two goal leads against Livingston this season. It has happened three times already, and when Livingston were awarded a penalty three minutes after the second goal a mass shudder ran through the Dee support. Ethan Hamilton tripped Lewis Smith in the penalty area and there can’t have been anyone in the ground who thought VAR might intervene. It was a straightforward decision for referee Colin Steven.
Happily for our nerves Kieran O’Hara spared us a nervous finish by diving the right way and blocking Robbie Muirhead’s spot kick. After that the result was never in doubt. Dundee were more lively and inventive. They always threatened to score when they came forward, in contrast to Livingston’s optimistic but ineffective attacking.
After 79 minutes Ash Hay and Scott Wright came on for Joe Westley and Cameron Congreve. Hay was almost on the scoresheet immediately when he was sent clear by Samuels but Prior raced out to block at the expense of a corner.
Livingston couldn’t clear the corner and Dundee’s persistence produced goal number three in the 83rd minute. Wright set up Robertson to cross and the midfielder sent over a neat chip for HAY to score with a header from a couple of yards range.
That finally allowed the Dees in the stands to relax. After a long, and often difficult, season, everyone knew the Dark Blues were safe from relegation.
Dundee have been better this season, but today they did exactly what they needed to do. Even in the spells when they were not playing well their concentration, discipline and organisation didn’t waver. Three goals today were very satisfying, but the second successive clean sheet was particularly pleasing. Kieran O’Hara didn’t put a foot, or a glove, wrong in his first full match. He made one good save in the first half, and that vital penalty save in the second. His handling was impeccable throughout.
A 3-0 scoreline was harsh on Livingston but ultimately Dundee had the quality and squad depth to finish as comfortable winners. It is a testament to the efforts of the managerial, coaching and playing staff that the Dark Blues are completely safe with two games still to play when they were firm favourites for the drop at the start of the season. That has surprised many pundits. Well done guys!
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Kieran O’Hara
Brad Halliday (Imari Samuels 68), Ryan Astley, Luke Graham, Drey Wright
Ethan Hamilton, Yan Dhanda
Cameron Congreve (Scott Wright 79), Joe Westley (Ash Hay 79), Tony Yogane (Billy Koumetio 68)
Simon Murray (Fin Robertson 68)
Unused substitutes: Harry Sharp (gk), Charlie Reilly, Joel Cotterill, Callum Jones.
Goals: Congreve (13), Robertson (71), Hay (83).
Booked: Koumetio (foul on Smith).
Livingston 4-3-2-1
Prior
Finlayson, Kabongolo, Wilson, Kerr (Montaño 85)
Pittman, Tait, Sylla (Danso 85)
Smith, McKay (May 79)
Nouble (Muirhead 63)
Unused subs: Hamilton (gk), Fati, Denholm, Zimmerman, Lawal.
Booked: Kabongolo (dissent).
Attendance: 5,573.
Referee: Colin Steven. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Craig Ferguson. VAR: Grant Irvine. AVAR: Gavin Duncan.
Report: James Christie.
