Dundee came from behind to beat St Mirren 3-1 at Dens Park this afternoon. Mikael Mandron put the Buddies ahead midway through the first half, but the Dark Blues equalised only two minutes later through an own goal by Alex Gogic. Drey Wright made it 2-1 with a stunning shot late in the half. A resolute Dee defensive display kept St Mirren at bay throughout the second half, and Joe Westley sent the fans home happy with a superb late third goal. Which was the best Dee goal today? Make up your own mind – the second and third were both wonderful to watch.
There were two changes to the Dee line-up. Ryan Astley kept his place afer coming off the bench to replace Imari Samuels last week, and Joe Westley came in for Paul Digby. Both Samuels and Digby were listed as substitutes.
The Dark Blues showed some promise in open play in the early stages. At the end of quick passing move Cameron Congreve’s dangerous cross was partially cleared. Drey Wright followed up with a cross to the near post but Joe Westley’s flicked shot was easily saved.
St Mirren had been looking more dangerous from set plays than open play but they grew into the game and started to dominate in midfield as Dundee’s early promise faded. Set pieces continued to give Dundee problems but St Mirren were now creating worrying opportunities in open play.
Conor McMenamin’s low cross found Dan Nlundulu but his glancing shot flew narrowly wide.
In the 27th minute the Buddies took the lead with as bad a goal from a Dee perspective as you’ll see all season. Clark Robertson was near his own goalline and mishit a pass straight to Mikael MANDRON who promptly cracked it low into the botton corner from 18 yards.
Potentially this could have been a hammer blow to a team on a poor run. Instead of losing all confidence and feeling sorry for themselves the Dark Blues showed strong, indeed steely, character for the remainder of the match. That goal might have been a gift but Dundee could hardly been less hospitable to their visitors.
The crowd were certainly unimpressed by the awful goal, but happily Dundee stopped the mood turning sour by grabbing an equaliser only two minutes later.
The second and third goals were things of beauty, but the own goal that levelled the match was priceless, perhaps the most important goal the Dee have scored all season.
Joe Westley found himself in space 30 yards from goal. With the crowd screaming at him to shoot he passed instead to Yan Dhanda who let fly from 25 yards. His low shot flew past Simon Murray and Alex GOGIC, taking a touch that left keeper Shamal George helpless. Murray claimed the goal, but it was definitely an OG off the defender.
The quick equaliser transformed the game and the fans’ attitude. Dundee almost took the lead a few minutes later when Westley’s shot from 18 yards took a deflection before bobbling agonisingly wide of the post with the keeper stranded.
In the 39th minute Dundee went ahead with a magnificent goal by Drey Wright. He and Tony Yogane were probing on the left. WRIGHT took a short pass from Yogane and, instead of crossing, caught out the Buddies’ defence with a burst of pace towards the edge of the penalty area before scoring with a ferocious shot off the inside of the near post from 20 yards.
The second half consisted largely of St Mirren attacking in an attempt to save the game but always being denied by a stalwart Dee defence.
Dundee came close to a third goal at the start of the half but Congreve headed narrowly wide from Yogane’s cross.
St Mirren consistently played neat football approaching the penalty area but when it came to the crunch they couldn’t create clear chances. The Dark Blue defenders were always able to intercept, cover, and block when it mattered. There were a few hairy moments, but Jon McCracken was called upon only to make a few routine saves and deal confidently with high balls into the goalmouth.
Dundee repeatedly tried to hit St Mirren on the break, but frustratingly they could never quite get it right.
After 69 minutes Imari Samuels came on as a straight replacement for Tony Yogane, who had taken a knock. Simon Murray and Cameron Congreve were then substituted by Ash Hay and Callum Jones to strengthen the midfield and provide fresh legs. The final substitution was Paul Digby coming on for Yan Dhanda as Dundee tried to see the game out safely.
The changes all worked effectively and two of the substitutes were involved in the third goal that made the points safe in the 87th minute.
St Mirren tried to build an attack but Malik Dijksteel was nailed on the halfway line by Imari Samuel’s tackle. Paul Digby picked up the loose ball and Dundee burst forward. Digby passed to Joe WESTLEY on the left and he cut in to whip a glorious curling shot around the keeper and inside the far post from 22 yards.
Deep into stoppage time St Mirren at last came close to a second goal when Ayunga cracked a shot against the crossbar from 16 yards, but the game was settled by then anyway.
Every Dee in the stadium must have feared the worst when the Dark Blues shipped that awful goal midway through the first half. It was hardly the prettiest of games or performances, but the Dee players showed the fighting character, with some real goal threat, that the supporters were desperate to see.
For all Dundee’s spirit and tough challenges this was a disciplined and clean performance. There were no bookings for Dundee players and only six fouls committed. Time and again the Dark Blues stopped St Mirren attacks with hard but fair tackles.
That was all important, but what will linger in the memory for many years are those magnificent goals by Drey Wright and Joe Westley. This was a solid team performance on a miserably cold November day, but those goals warmed the hearts of every Dee at Dens.
Dundee 4-1-4-1
Jon McCracken
Ryan Astley, Clark Robertson, Luke Graham, Drey Wright
Ethan Hamilton
Cameron Congreve (Callum Jones 78), Joe Westley, Yan Dhanda (Paul Digby 85), Tony Yogane (Imari Samuels 69)
Simon Murray (c) (Ash Hay 78)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Billy Koumetio, Emile Acquah, Fin Robertson, Charlie Reilly.
Goals: Gogic og (29), Wright (39), Westley (87).
Booked: none.
St Mirren 3-5-2
George
Fraser (c), Gogic, Freckleton
Richardson (Dijlksteel 75), Phillips, Baccus, McMenamin (Idowu 65), John (Tanser 32)
Mandron (Ayunga 65), Nlundulu
Unused subs: Tamosevicius (gk), Donnelly, King, Taylor, Mooney.
Goal: Mandron (27).
Booked: Mandron (foul on Astley), Phillips (foul on Jones).
Attendance: 4,782.
Referee: John Beaton. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Graham McNeillie. VAR: Greg Aitken. AVAR: Ryan Lee.
Report: James Christie.
