The Dark Blues finished 2024 with an excellent 2-1 win at in-form St Mirren. Simon Murray powered headers home in each half, with the Buddies Toyosa Olusanya equalising shortly before half time. Dundee overcame the simultaneous loss of central defenders Jordan McGhee and Billy Koumetio after only 19 minutes but the setback didn’t affect the Dark Blues. The team worked hard, stayed focused, and defended resolutely to see the game to a successful conclusion after Simon Murray’s winning goal midway through the second half. The performance delighted the travelling Dees who thoroughly enjoyed a well deserved win.
Anyone arriving 20 minutes late would have had little difficulty catching up with the action they’d missed; nothing. Neither side threatened to score in the opening exchanges. The lack of excitement suited Dundee better than St Mirren as the Dee settled into the match.
The only noteworthy event in the opening 20 minutes was of huge significance, however. Any hint of complacency amongst the travelling support would have vanished when Dundee lost two of their three central defenders simultaneously. Billy Koumetio and Jordan McGhee both went down injured, and after treatment both left the pitch after 19 minutes. The Dark Blues had to play with nine players for a couple of minutes until Ethan Ingram and Sean Kelly could come on as straight replacements, both playing in central defence.
Dundee’s defence might have been improvised but the players deserve huge credit for the way they responded. It was the Buddies’ defence who looked more vulnerable and they had a big escape after 26 minutes. Keeper Ellery Balcombe spilled a cross from Seun Adewumi and Lyall Cameron’s effort was blocked. Fin Robertson switched the ball sideways to Simon Murray whose shot beat Balcombe but was cleared acrobatically off the goal-line by Alex Iacovitti.
St Mirren’s reprieve didn’t last long. Two minutes later a Murray header from midfield allowed Adewumi to race away through the inside left position. Balcombe saved twice from the young Austrian, the second time at the expense of a corner.
The Buddies only half cleared the corner and Ethan Ingram sent Josh Mulligan to the byline. The wing back’s cross was perfect and Simon MURRAY headed firmly into the roof of the net, to the delight of all the Dees behind that goal.
Dundee’s confidence grew following the goal. They looked dangerous coming forward and held off St Mirren’s untidy attacking effectively till they were caught out after 40 minutes. Elvis Bwomono got round Fin Robertson on the right and his cross into the goalmouth was turned into the goal by Toyosi OLUSANYA’s diving header.
It was a simple goal to lose and a disappointing way to end what had looked like a promising first half. However, that was the last time Dundee were opened up and the the players didn’t lose their composure and defended soundly for the rest of the match.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were dominated territorially by St Mirren but the home side lacked inspiration and penetration against a calm and determined Dee defence. The only worrying moment came when Olusanya managed to break clear on the right, but his shot from a difficult angle flew into the side netting.
As St Mirren’s play became more ragged Dundee started to attack more. Seb Palmer-Houlden saw his fierce shot turned over the bar by Balcombe following great play by Adewumi who broke up a St Mirren attack and raced up the park.
After 66 minutes the Dark Blues grabbed the winning goal. Fin Robertson’s free kick from the left wasn’t cleared. Ryan Astley hooked the ball back into the six yard box and MURRAY got astonishing power into his header to smash the ball home off the crossbar.
There was still almost half an hour to play but the Dark Blues’ game management was flawless. The defence stayed tight and the Dee picked their moments to attack and never left St Mirren with space to exploit.
In the last 15 minutes Dundee were the side offering greater danger, but a single goal lead never feels comfortable. Anything can happen, but happily this afternoon nothing did happen in the closing stages. St Mirren were out of sorts, thanks to Dundee’s sterling efforts. The home support became exasperated as a succession of home attacks went nowhere and fizzled out with hopeful crosses straight into Trevor Carson’s gloves or sailing into the Dark Blue support behind that goal.
The Dark Blues took some understandable criticism following the home defeat against Ross County but they responded superbly today. Everything they did poorly against the Staggies they did well against St Mirren, a much better side.
In particular the defence earned plaudits for handling the injuries and resulting disruption so well. The midfield worked hard and kept their heads, helping the defence and building attacks. Simon Murray obviously took the eye with his two goals, but Seun Adewumi and Seb Palmer-Houlden were a constant nuisance in support posing problems to St Mirren’s three man defence and stopping the home side building attacks easily from the back.
This was hardly a classic, but the Dark Blues were well worth the three points. It was a solid, professional, hard working win at a very difficult venue and that was exactly what the fans craved.
St Mirren 3-4-2-1
Balcombe
Fraser, Gogic, Iacovitti
Bwomono (Penman 82), Phillips, Smyth (Boyd-Munce 74), John
Idowu (Ayunga 63), Kiltie (Scott 74)
Olusanya (Mandron 63)
Unused subs: Urminsky (gk), Mooney, Adeniran, Taylor.
Goal: Olusanya (40).
Booked: Mandron (foul on Astley).
Dundee FC 3-4-3
Carson (c)
Mulligan, Astley, McGhee (Ingram 19), Koumetio (Kelly 19)
Mulligan, Sylla, Cameron, Fin Robertson
Palmer-Houlden, Murray, Adewumi (Tiffoney 89)
Unused substitutes: McCracken (gk), Sharp (gk), Main, Braybrooke, Vetro.
Goals: Murray (29, 66).
Booked: Palmer-Houlden (dissent), Ingram (time-wasting).
Referee: Nick Walsh. Assistants: Sean Carr, Brian Christie. VAR: Alan Muir. VAR Assistant: Andrew McWilliam.
Attendance: 6,798.
Report: James Christie.
