Raith Rovers 1
Dundee 0
League (Division One)

Match Report

Dundee's dismal defeat in a D dreadful match at Starks Park tonight encapsulated all that's gone wrong for the Dees since the turn of the year. Up against a weakened Rovers side, who were playing their third game in five days, Dundee never looked in danger of defeat until Dougie Hill's winning goal on 53 minutes. After the goal they never looked capable of avoiding defeat.

Dundee lacked the composure and understanding to sustain a passing game against Raith's eager pressing, and they lacked the fighting spirit to match the home side in a battle. Rovers desperately wanted the points to stay in the First Division, and both sides got what they deserved.

Gordon Chisholm made five changes to Saturday's side, with Shinnie, Kerr and McMenamin dropping onto the bench. Griffiths and Malone dropped out of the squad. In their places came Forsyth, Hart, Klimpl, Clarke and Higgins.

The only incident of note in the first half was Tony Bullock's departure with a hamstring injury after 26 minutes. He raced from his penalty area to clear a through ball, then pulled up clutching his thigh. It was immediately clear he would not be continuing, and Rab Geddes duly came on to set the record as Dundee's oldest player at 49 year and 8 months, nearly 30 years The remainder of the first half passed quietly for him, with the three Dundee centre backs comfortably providing him with protection.

Although Dundee were in control at the back against a struggling Rovers side, they offered little coming forward. Time and again sloppy passes under pressure cost Dundee possession, and David McGurn in the Rovers goal had no more problems than Geddes

The game finally sprang into life after half time, and Dundee at last started to look like a team challenging at the top of the table. A series of crisp passes and good running had the Rovers defence struggling, and a goal looked imminent. It duly arrived, but at the other end.

Raith won a free kick on the right, a few yards inside the Dundee half. Murray knocked the ball high into the penalty area, and Dougie Hill rose to glance it just inside Geddes's top right comer from 12 yards.

The keeper had little chance, but the central defenders should be embarrassed about their failure to put in an effective challenge on Hill. The carelessness was all the more disappointing because the Dundee defence had been having little difficulty in dealing with Rovers attacks.

The goal transformed the match completely. Rovers got a huge boost, and Dundee looked like they were expecting to lose. The brief spell of sharp passing was over, and everything was laboured, tentative or plain careless. As Dundee floundered the Raith players worked and ran furiously, hustling the Dundee players and forcing mistake after mistake.

There was no good football on display, but at least Raith's approach had the merit of being effective. Although Dundee had plenty of possession Raith looked more direct and more dangerous when they did have the ball. Geddes was probably Dundee's best player on the night, and pulled off some fine saves, in particular athletically springing to touch a Mole shot from 18 yards round the post.

In injury time Geddes again saved Dundee when O'Leary lost the ball under pressure from Tade and Mole, who ran on to shoot from a tight angle. Geddes blocked the first shot, and then made another good save from the follow up.

Raith's win means than Dundee will definitely be in the First Division next season, and Rovers will almost certainly be staying there with them. Dundee have better players than Raith, but tonight the Rovers showed they have a better team, Gordon Chisholm looked very thoughtful as he left the dugout at the final whistle, and it is safe to predict that there will be big changes at Dens Park over the next few months.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website