Two goals from Simon Murray and a priceless clean sheet gave the Dark Blues a 2-0 win over St Mirren at the Scot Foam Stadium this afternoon. Dundee’s fast start allowed Murray to put the Dee ahead in their first attack in the second minute. Midway through the second half Murray made it two when he reacted quickly to a mistake by Buddies’ keeper Zac Hemming to score from 40 yards. The defence, marshalled by skipper Joe Shaughnessy, held firm to prevent St Mirren fighting back and Dundee earned a valuable three points.
The only change to the Dark Blues’ starting eleven was Clark Robertson returning in central defence with Aaron Donnelly switching to the bench.
The match got off to the lively start we’ve got used to seeing from the Dee. St Mirren kicked off and managed their first shot on target before falling behind with only 83 seconds on the clock. Mark O’Hara shot from 20 yards and Trevor Carson stopped with his knees.
Dundee raced straight up the park and Ziyad Larkeche’s cross from the left flew through the penalty area. Jordan McGhee sent a cross back into the goalmouth. Seun Adewumi stopped the defence clearing and kept the ball alive allowing Simon MURRAY to sweep a scoring shot home from 12 yards.
St Mirren responded well to the bad start and repeatedly played their way into dangerous areas. However, they rarely found the right final balls to open up the Dee defence.
After 10 minutes the Buddies almmost got it right. Declan John’s cross found Killian Philips but the Irish midfielder send his header straight at Carson.
The game was open game and more goals seemed likely, but Dundee restricted St Mirren to only one more chance before half time.
Right at the end of the first half Roland Idowu missed a header in front of goal and John’s follow up was blocked by Jordan McGhee.
The Buddies made two changes at half time, sending on Scott Tanser and Toyosi Olusanya for Ryan Alebiosu and Roland Idowu. It was a tricky start to the half for the Dark Blues with St Mirren attacking almost constantly. However, the Dee defence stood firm and prevented St Mirren creating clear chances.
It took Dundee 12 minutes to mount a serious attack in the second half but they came very close to a second when they did so. Scott Tiffoney was only a couple of yards out and couldn’t quite reach Mulligan’s low cross to touch it over the line.
On the hour St Mirren were awarded a free kick just outside the Dee penalty area. Carson did well to push O’Hara’s low shot away. For all the Buddies’ attacking this was the only save that Carson made that was anything more than routine. That’s not to imply any hint of disrespect, quite the reverse. Time and again crosses flew into the goalmouth and Carson was always in the right place to clutch the ball.
In contrast Zac Hemming had a much unhappier afternoon in the St Mirren goal. He reached his personal pits in the 63rd minute. With the ball at his feet, under no pressure, he astonishingly whacked a clearance effort against the back of Simon Murray, who was some 10 yards inside the Buddies’ half. The ball flew into the air and when it dropped MURRAY simply passed it into the empty net from 40 yards before the keeper could recover or defenders could cover.
There was still over half an hour to play. We all know that’s a long time for the Dark Blues to defend a two goal lead. Today they were excellent. Perhaps they were too deep at times, and too willing to launch a long clearance anywhere rather than keep possession. But in the final third they handled eveything that St Mirren threw at them.
There was one heartstopping moment when Carson was blocked by that mass of bodies at a corner and Richard Taylor planted a header against the bar. Apart from that Dundee were solid at the back. Joe Shaughnessy was immense throughout, exuding confidence and leadership, and Clark Robertson partnered him well until Billy Koumetio replaced him for the last 22 minutes.
When the game moved into the five minutes of added time the three points seemed guaranteed for the Dee. But what was vital was not just the points but the clean sheet. Dundee held strong in those last few minutes and the defence should take heart from this performance. It’s been far too long, almost a year, since Dundee stopped the opposition scoring in a league game at home.
A minute before the final whistle Simon Murray was withdrawn and walked off to a standing ovation. He fully earned it. What a season he has had. It’s wonderful to see a Dundee supporter in such great form playing for the club he loves. After last week’s disappointment his early goal was a huge boost to the team and the home support. The Dark Blues have played more impressively and lost this season. For an hour last week they were better than they ever were today, but Dundee did the basics properly and defended solidly. It was hardly a classic, and it was never pretty, but for the Dee support two goals from Simon Murray and a clean sheet made it feel more like Christmas than Easter.
Dundee FC 4-3-3
Carson
McGhee, Shaughnessy (c), Clark Robertson (Koumetio 77), Larkeche
Mulligan, Sylla, Fin Robertson
Tiffoney, Murray (Ingram 90+4), Adewumi (Palmer-Houlden 71)
Unused subs: McCracken (gk), Samuels, Garza, Reilly, Portales, Donnelly.
Goals: Murray (2, 63).
Booked: McGhee (foul on Fraser).
St Mirren 3-5-2
Hemming
Fraser, Gogic, Taylor
Alebiosu (Tanser at half time), Phillips (Kiltie 71), Boyd-Munce, O’Hara (c), John
Idowu (Olusanya at half time), Ayunga (Mandron 58)
Unused subs: Urminsky (gk), Smyth, Scott, Oseni, Kenny.
Booked: Olusanya (foul on Koumetio).
Referee: John Beaton. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Ross Nelson. VAR: Steven McLean. Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland.
Attendance: 6,580.
Report: James Christie.
