Dundee 1
St Mirren 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Striker Eric Sinclair plays for Dundee from the start against St Mirren. Davie Bell, who started last week, is on the bench.

Saints field the side which drew with Rangers. Lex Richardson makes his come back from injury as a substitute.

Stark gets the break of the ball when a Fraser pass rebounds to his feet. His cross to the far post is touched by Glennie to the waiting hands of 'keeper Kelly. Glennie also halts promising run by Scanlon

Ferguson has a 20-yard shot which goes over with Thomson at the other end of his goal. Fitzpatrick sends over a good cross which is headed away by Smith.

Scanlon sends the ball back and it falls to McDougall, who, with time and space, sends a weak shot yards wide.

A cross by Mackie drifts over the bar while Ferguson and Sinclair wait. Sinclair fails in his attempt to set up a Fraser pass for Ferguson.

A 35-yard shot from Fleming spins wide.

Stephen beats Wilson neatly to cross, but the ball arrives before Fraser can get into position. Smith heads for a corner while there is no danger. Scanlon makes a long run on the right before giving the ball to Wilson, who sends over a well-hit cross. Smith again heads for a corner.

The kick is cleared and Dundee race away to score in 22 minutes from a corner kick.

Mackie's cross from the right is headed back to him by Sinclair and the second cross finds STEPHEN, who heads neatly into the net.

A series of moves started by Stark keeps the Dundee defence busy.

A pass from Scanlon finds McAvennie in good position, but the young striker slips and mis-hits a shot. Then Kelly slips, but the ball hits him to rebound to safety.

A spell of Saints' pressure ends with Stark shot which hits a defender and spins wide. Dundee make another dangerous break through Mackie and Ferguson. The cross is diverted for a corner which almost produces a second goal.

Smith heads across towards goal and Stephen sends a back header towards Thomson's top left corner. The big 'keeper just manages to get across.

A cross from Wilson is headed on and Stark sends in a powerful header which looks a winner until Kelly pushes it over.

Sinclair sends a pass in front of Stephen and the youngster is just beaten to the ball by the alert Thomson.

Half-time-Dundee 1, St Mirren 0.

Reflections | Saints have had more of the attacking play and the Dens defenders have had their moments of in decision. There is little between the sides.

Dundee live dangerously and twice keeper Kelly whips the ball off McAvennie's toes. Smith has to concede a corner to stop a red-haired attacker on his third raid and Kelly does well to grab Fitzpatrick's cross.

Thomson has to dash from his penalty area twice to clear from Mackie and Stephen.

In 52 minutes Dundee send on Bell to replace McKimmie, who has had an unhappy afternoon.

Shots from Stark and Copland pose no problems for Kelly.

A cross from Mackie bounces around on the edge of the penalty area and Fleming nips in to hit a shot which rebounds from a defender.

Bell has a good run and cross which Thomson just manages to hold at the near post.

Wilson heads a Mackie cross back to Thomson with a force which forces the keeper to make a reflex save. In 65 minutes Saints take off McDougall and Scanlon and send on both subs, playing Stark wide.

The move brings immediate success. Richard son leaves Glennie lying in pain on the touchline after an unsuccessful tackle and crosses to the far post. Stark heads back and McAvennie heads easily into the net.

Dundee counter-attack but the Dens Parkers lack the vital finishing touch. Somner just fails to score from a cross by Wilson. Another of Bell's runs results in another cross.

This time it is hit too deep. Mackle shakes himself free of Clarke and sends over a good cress which is missed by Ferguson, Sinclair. and Stephen. Each had a good scoring chance.

Ferguson limps off 10 minutes from the end and is replaced by Davidson who immediately cuts a low ball across goal which is gobbled up by a defender 20 to rob Fraser.

A close-in header by Somner is pushed round the post by Kelly.

A Ray Stephen shot was palmed on to the bar by keeper Thomson, and the ball dropped to Sinclair's, feet with the goal at his mercy. Incredibly, the Dundee striker managed to miskick it past the post.

Reflections This was an uninspiring and unconvincing display by Dundee. Saints played an ace switch. with their double.

Match report written by The Sporting Post