Dundee 3
Hamilton Academical 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier - Steve Bruce.

Dundee's on-field problems intensified as they dropped a home point for the second time in four days at Dens Park last night.

And this latest slip-up came in identical fashion to that against Clydebank, with a two goal lead being established and squan-dered and the Dark Blues having to muster a late equaliser.

Not even the return of midfield maestro John Brown after a seven-game injury absence could bring about a change in Dundee's fortunes.

Playing against his former club, Brown netted twice during the first half as Jocky Scott's men fully harnessed the powerful wind at their back.

However Accies scored just after the interval, the jitters set in, and for the third match running Dundee's defence yielded three goals.

This share of the points continued Hamilton's revival but did nothing to help the Dark Blues quest for a place in Europe.

The only good news for them came after the match when it emerged that Brown, who limped off during the second period, had not suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury, merely a 'dead leg'.

Harvey squandered a chance in four minutes, glancing a Forsyth free-kick well wide.

At the other end it was the turn of Taylor to miss a scoring opportunity, shooting high after Brogan and McCabe had worked an opening.

The deadlock was broken in 13 minutes after McKellar had turned a well-struck 20-yarder from Angus round his left-hand post.

Forsyth's wind-assisted corner completely deceived the keeper and fell to Brown, who steadied before lashing it home from an angle to put Dundee ahead.

Accies responded, with Spiers heading a Taylor corner narrowly wide and a goalmouth scramble ended by the intervention of Rafferty.

Visiting defender Miller had his name taken in 21 minutes for fouling Brown as the action continued to move from end to end.

A cross by Angus, headed on by Harvey, left McKellar stranded and the Hamilton goal beckoning, but Mennie couldn't get behind the ball and headed behind.

Former St Johnstone man John Brogan came close with a cross-cum-shot which shaved the crossbar before Dundee struck again in 34 minutes.

A Rafferty cross from a short corner on the left mesmerised the Hamilton rearguard, allow-ing Brown to steal in and head past the static McKellar.

In the final minute of the half, former Dundee United midfielder Alex Taylor found himself with only Geddes to beat, but dallied and Shannon arrived to block his shot.

Accies hit back six minutes after the break.

A John Brogan corner, his second in succession, was fisted on to the post by Geddes, who appeared to be hampered in coming for the ball, and Chico Spiers pounced to net the rebound.

Hamilton had a bit of luck in 54 minutes when a Rafferty shot was deflected straight into McKellar's arms by the boot of Miller, and seconds later Harvey delayed his shot when given a clear look at goal. The striker did manage to square for Brown, but he was off target.

Dundee should have enjoyed greater reward shortly after that when Harvey broke forward with only Taylor to beat and Brown to his right.

Harvey was hauled down by the Accies player, and incredibly referee Sandy Roy refused to allow advantage, instead calling play back and booking Taylor.

Midway through the half the visitors pulled level when John Mailer raced on to a magnificent Brogan pass over the heads of Dundee's central defence and lobbed the ball past Geddes.

Worse was to follow, for in 77 minutes Accies went ahead when Reilly miskicked a Brogan cross against Forsyth and the ball bounced into the net.

Dundee fought back and were rewarded with a saver six from time via the penalty spot.

Referee Roy had no hesitation in making the award after Collins had fouled Mennie, and skipper Jim Duffy stepped up to net.

Farrell had his name taken for protesting the decision.