Recap
Dens Park
Dundee
Clyde
Recap
Clyde once more failed to take advantage of good results elsewhere as Dundee came from behind to win a dull encounter at Dens Park.
The Bully Wee went into the game with an unchanged starting eleven, with Ruari MacLennan and Alan Trouten taking places on the substitute’s bench. As always, Dundee fielded a selection of ex-Clyde stars, with four of their team having once worn Bully Wee colours.
The early stages of the game were fairly indicative of what was to follow as neither team took charge of proceedings with any real confidence or quality. Referee Craig Charleston was to have a controversial 90 minutes and after missing a couple of handballs, he decided to ignore a trip by Gregory Tade on Eddie Malone. This almost led to the opening goal as Pat Clarke was quickly released and after cutting inside a couple of defenders, the division’s top scorer slid Willie McLaren through on goal, only for Rab Douglas to keep out his low effort.
Another moment of controversy was then to go in Clyde’s favour as Dundee appeared to be denied a good penalty shout as the ball appeared to strike Billy Gibson on the top of his arm. Once again, Clyde broke to the other end and this time, the ball was to end up in the back of the net. Sadly, the Bully Wee can’t claim much of an assist as it was Dundee right back Eric Paton who somehow managed to hit a clearance against McLaren but the on-form winger showed admirable composure to loft a shot over Douglas for his third goal in three games. The Dees boss Jocky Scott then had a heated conversation with the official, possibly over the penalty claim.
Dundee responded reasonably well but at this stage, Clyde looked to have an element of control over the game. Mark Gilhaney swung in a couple of efforts from distance but neither seriously troubled David Hutton, whilst at the other end the referee ruled that Craig McKeown’s volleyed strike at his own goal was not a pass-back. However, with half-time looking like it would arrive with Clyde still ahead, the referee was again to have a massive impact on proceedings as he first missed a foul by Mikael Curier on Stuart Kettlewell, before failing to see Andrew Shinnie handle in the middle of the pitch. From Shinnie’s pass, Gilhaney cut inside and his cross was flicked into the net by Colin McMenamin. The reaction from manager John Brown mirrored that of Scott after Clyde’s opener.
From being reasonably comfortable, Clyde somehow found themselves behind at the interval as within two minutes, Dundee doubled their goal tally. A loose ball in midfield fell for McMenamin and his through ball eluded a flat-footed Billy Gibson and allowed Curier to run in on David Hutton. The striker’s low finish nicked the post on its way to the back of the net and the inquest into Clyde’s sudden drop in performance began.
The second half was sadly bereft of controversial refereeing and individual errors and as such, very little happened. Dundee’s attacking output revolved around a deflected McMenamin effort early in the half, whilst Kettlewell looped a header over the bar for Clyde as play became depressingly predictable from both sides. Although the Bully Wee introduced Trouten, Dave McKay and MacLennan for Tade, Wilson and Waddell, very little was created until the last couple of minutes when Trouten saw a left footed shot deflected past the post. The final chance of the game came when Gibson pushed forward from the back but his weak strike but skied over the bar by the lunging Alan Lithgow.
These are the games that Clyde need to dig out three points from if they are to be comfortable come May. There is little doubt that they weren’t helped by the missed fouls in the build-up to the equaliser but more urgency was needed in the second half.
Goals
Dundee | Clyde | |
---|---|---|
12' | McLaren | |
McMenamin | 39' | |
Antoine-Curier | 42' |
Line-Ups
Dundee | Clyde | |
---|---|---|
Douglas | Hutton | |
Paton | Lowing | |
Malone | Waddell 78 |
|
85 McHale |
Higgins | |
McKeown | Gibson | |
Lauchlan | Lithgow | |
Shinnie | Tade 71 |
|
Pozniak | Kettlewell | |
McMenamin | Clarke | |
Antoine-Curier | Wilson 68 |
|
78 Gilhaney |
McLaren |
|
Substitutes | ||
85 MacKenzie |
Gemmill | |
Roy | Cherrie | |
78 O'Brien |
McKay 78 |
|
Deasley | Ruari MacLennan 71 |
|
Daquin | Trouten 68 |
Details
Date | Time | League | Season | Full Time | Attendance | Report Author |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 31, 2009 | 3:00 pm | Scottish Championship | 2008-09 | 90' | 3217 | David Worton |
Officials
- Referee
Craig Charleston