Dundee 1
Raith Rovers 2
League Cup (Group 2)


Dundee
1 - 2
Raith Rovers 

League Cup (Group 2)
Saturday, August 8th, 1981
Dens Park
Attendance: 5,362
3:00 PM Kick-off

Goalscorers
Ian Fleming (27)
Bobby Russell (9)
Bobby Russell (79)

Team Managers
Donald Mackay
Gordon Wallace

Starting Eleven
1. Bobby Geddes
2. Les Barr
3. Stewart McKimmie
4. Cammy Fraser
5. Bobby Glennie
6. Iain MacDonald
7. Jimmy Murphy
8. Albert Kidd
9. Eric Sinclair
10. Ian Fleming
11. Brian Scrimgeour
Tam Walker .1
Bobby Ford .2
Chris Candlish .3
Bobby Robinson .4
Tom Houston .5
Derek Steel .6
Ian Ballantyne .7
Don Urquhart .8
Bobby Russell .9
Pat Caroll .10
John Mitchell .11

Bench
12. George McGeachie
14. Ray Stephen
John Steen .12
Colin Harris .14

Substitutions
George McGeachie for Cammy Fraser
Ray Stephen for Eric Sinclair (19)
John Steen for Pat Caroll
Colin Harris for John Mitchell

Cautions
Ian Fleming (88)
Derek Steel
Bobby Russell
John Steen

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

A. W. Waddell (Penicuik) (Referee)
W. J. Johnston (Inverness) & D. Smart (Midlothian) (Assistants)


Match Report


A dissappointing result for Dundee, although it may be rash to place too much importance on an opening fixture.

On the other hand if Dundee can show as much progress through the season as they did from the 27th minute onward then Dundee boss Donald Mackay will have reason to be confident.

The opening 26 minutes, however, were a nightmare for the home club and against Premier League opposition they would assuredly have been in sorry straits indeed. As it was, Raith could have been at least three goals ahead in this period.

It was no surprise when they went ahead after some aggressive play from full back Chris Candlish.

His cross from the left found an unmarked Bobby Russell 12 yards out. The centre's well-directed header gave Geddes no chance what so ever, but the question must be asked-just where were Dundee's defenders?

A few minutes later Raith could have so easily been two up. Only a brilliant diving save by Geddes for a corner saved the day.

And almost, immediately after wards Geddes was in the middle of desperate action once again, this time to stop a Mitchell effort.

Dundee lost Eric Sinclair with an ankle injury after 19 minutes. Raith continued to rip Dundee's defence apart, but simply could not press home their territorial advantage. Then, after Steel was booked for a foul on Stephen, Dundee drew level with a fine goal.

Newcomer Albert Kidd gained much of the credit. He sent over a tremendous cross which eluded Raith defenders, was flicked on by Stephen, and found Ian Fleming at the ready three yards out.

Five successive corners came Dundee's way in quick succession near the interval but found no takers. Stephen was unlucky. though, when his header from a Murphy floater went inches over the bar.

Dundee continued to set the pace on the resumption without causing any undue trouble to former youth international 'keeper Tommy Walker.

Then all against the run of play Raith went ahead with a goal with tragedy written all over it as far as Dundee were concerned. Home 'keeper Bobby Geddes after almost a year's absence with an injury problem, failed to hold a fine shot from Russell. The Raith centre was quick to say" thank you" when he ran on to it and tapped the ball into the net.

On their early form in this game Raith took a good bet in the First Division. Russell, although booked, was their number one. Also booked were Steen Raiths and Fleming of Dundee.

Match report written by The Sunday Post



Squad Statistics (as at August 8th, 1981)


1981-82 All Time
Age
Bobby Geddes (GK)20 1 - 32 -
Stewart McKimmie18 1 - 19 -
Les Barr28 1 - 1041
Brian Scrimgeour21 1 - 295
Bobby Glennie23 1 - 1522
Cammy Fraser24 1 - 397
Iain MacDonald27 1 - 1 -
Jimmy Murphy24 1 - 10511
Ian Fleming28 11295
Eric Sinclair27 1 - 22480
Albert Kidd19 1 - 1 -
George McGeachie (sub)22 1 - 975
Ray Stephen (sub)18 1 - 288






League Table (as at August 8th, 1981)


No league table has been added for this season.


Manager's Programme Notes


We welcome our supporters back to Dens Park at the start of a new season, full of hope and expectation after regaining a position in the Premier League. It is ironic we welcome for our first game one of our closest competitors last year, Raith Rovers, who, I am sure, will be fighting for honours in the First Division this season again. We wish the Kirkcaldy side well in their bid to gain promotion this time.

The beginning of a season is always full of hope and expectation, and this season it is even more so at Dens Park. No-one at Dundee Football Club is kidding himself that this will be an easy season but we are very hopeful after all the hard work that has been put in during the close season, both to strengthen the team and try to improve all the players on the staff to meet. Premier League standards.

Our League Cup section is a very interesting one and hopefully we can learn a great deal from it. Apart from Raith we have Rangers, Scottish Cup winners last season, and Morton, and established Premier League side.

We welcome new players to our staff and hope they will strengthen our first team squad. We also welcome our new first team coach, Ken Wimhurst, who takes over from Frank Upton who has departed for Kuwait. I worked. with Ken at Bristol City for several years and I know he will do a very good job for Dundee and his experience will be priceless to the club.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal supporters who have stood by us through good times and bad times. We hope we can give you all something to cheer about in season 1981-82.