Meadowbank Thistle 1
Dundee 1 (AET)
Scottish Cup (4th Round Replay)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

In the eerie atmosphere of a Meadowbank Stadium empty on three sides, though the 7500- seater stand was more than three-quarters full, Dundee again struggled in this Scottish Cup third round replay.

At times the action was brisk, but in between these bursts there were long spells of dull, slogging stuff in midfield.

Having seen Dundee play well away from home recently I had expected a much better performance from them than they gave in the drawn game on Saturday.

It didn't happen. They were at full stretch at the back and never won control in midfield.

They did hit the crossbar and post but their attacking thrusts were mostly contained by an effective home defence which didn't try to be fancy but was certainly effective.

And again my top player was Meadowbank winger Lawrence. Dundee had no one with his pace and thrust and it was no fault of his that a succession of crosses second half didn't bring greater reward.

He again gave McKinlay a torrid time, but the left back wasn't the only one who found things tough.

It was pass marks for the battling Glennie and Smith, while Geddes did nothing wrong. Otherwise, not a lot of praise.

It was a slow start to the game but once the action did start it positively exploded.

In an edgy opening spell when a Coyne "goal" was disallowed for offside and an Angus 25-yard lob had McQueen crashing into a post as he cleared the ball for a corner, it looked like Dundee were in charge.

But when Roseburgh in 28 minutes sent a shot just over the bar and, immediately afterwards, Armstrong failed to control the ball in front of an empty goal, the warning bells started ringing.

The Dundee defence failed to heed them and paid the penalty in 34 minutes.

As they advanced after a corner, veteran Park lobbed the ball in behind them and Hendrie, who started his career at Dens Park, cracked it past Geddes. Maybe it was the lesson Dundee needed, because they immediately upped the pace.

Just after Tierney was booked for sending Coyne crashing, McKinlay, wide on the left, sent over a perfect cross which reached Jack and his shot from eight yards out on the right gave McQueen no chance.

This was in 39 minutes and, four minutes later, with Dundee really motoring, McGachie was booked for persistent fouling after downing Shannon.

Dundee were quickly into action in the second half when a looping Harvey cross from the right was met by Coyne. His diving header clipped the bar and went behind.

But there was no question of Meadowbank being out of it, as they proved after 15 minutes of dreich stuff.

Rafferty slipped inside the box and McGachie wheeled to send a shot whistling just past Geddes's right hand post.

As the battle for control rolled on, Jack flattened Park and was promptly booked for his pains.

Lawrence, my man of the match on Saturday, had been quiet first half, but, suddenly, he burst into action with four successive runs in which he completely outpaced McKinlay and caused near panic in the Dundee goalmouth.

When he again forced a corner with 15 minutes to go, there was near disaster for the Premier League side.

Armstrong took the kick and as Tierney's flick on looked like going over the line, Shannon headed it out.

At this stage it would have been no more than Meadowbank deserved.

In 84 minutes, Leetion went on for Park and, as Dundee forced a corner they had their nearest miss of the second half. Glennie crossed and Boyd headed off the line from Coyne.

As Callaghan tumbled on the edge of the Dundee box in the third minute of extra time, there were cries of penalty, but referee Syme said 'no'.

Then another near thing, with Dundee again the sufferers.

Harvey cut the ball back to Rafferty and his thundering shot from 20 yards smacked against the left hand post with McQueen well beaten.

Next it was Harvey getting perfectly to a cross but heading straight into McQueen's hands.

Forsyth was on for Jack and Scott for Roseburgh as the second half of extra time started.

Then Hendry replaced Harvey but the action came at the other end when Meadowbank won a free kick 20 yards out which was hammered into the defensive wall by Armstrong.

The replay will take place at Dens on Monday (7.30 kick off). John Greig tossed the coin and Meadowbank's Terry Christie called 'heads' and it came down 'tails'. Not unexpectedly, Dundee manager Jocky Scott chose Dens.

Meadowbank: McQueen; Hendrie, Roseburgh, Boyd, Tierney, Armstrong. Lawrence, Lawson, Callaghan, Park, McGachie. Subs-Leetion, Scott.

Dundee Geddes; Shannon, McKin lay, Rafferty, Glennie, Smith, Coyne, Mennie, Harvey, Angus, Jack. Subs - Forsyth, Hendry.

Referee-David Syme (Rutherglen).