Dundee 0
Aberdeen 2
League (Premier League)

Match Report

The managerial reign of Jocky Scott and Jimmy Bone came to an end yesterday-but Dundee's 12-year quest for a league victory over Aberdeen at Dens goes on.

Following last weekend's 5-1 defeat of Kilmarnock, goals from Arild Stavrum and Eoin Jess ensured the Dons completed this the most appalling of SPL campaigns with back to back wins a feat they had achieved just once before this term-and will head into Saturday's Tennents Scottish Cup final in reasonable heart.

Yet there were aspects of their performance which did nothing to allay the fears you must have for them pitted against Rangers at Hampden and really Dundee had so much possession they ought to have given Scott and Bone a winning send off.

This was a far from fitting conclusion to Scott's highly successful tenure even if Dundee United's loss to Celtic meant the Dark Blues have, for the second year running, finished higher up table than their local rivals.

With St. Johnstone and Hibs both losing, a victory for Dundee would have seen them emulate last term's fifth place achievement. Instead they had to settle for seventh spot and the knowledge they had, given their very limited resources, yet again successfully punched above their weight.

But if the fact history had not repeated itself exactly nor had he been able to lay the clubs Aberdeen jinx was a source of irritation to Scott he gave no hint of that.

Instead, in reflecting upon his last match in charge and the campaign overall, the departing boss had a dig at the Dens Park board and threw down a "beat that" challenge to them and his successor Ivano Bonetti.

"Obviously I am disappointed with this final result," he said.

"I thought we totally dominated Aberdeen in the first 25 minutes but then when we were on top we lost a silly goal and in having to chase the game became wee bit ragged and frustrated.

"But the season lasts 36 games, it's not about one, and the players have achieved, in my opinion, another good season.

"We set out to consolidate in the league and we have done that comfortably. We set out to get a minimum 40 points and we've done that too.

"Now there's only room for improvement so we'll see what happens.

"I wasn't emotional at the end because I have known for weeks that I was out.

"It would have been different if I was walking away-but not when I've been sacked.

"I fully understand these sort of things happen in football. It would though be nice to know why, but no-one has told me why."

As Scott and Bone head for the exit door it seems however, they may not necessarily be followed by striker James Grady, whose contract is also at an end.

Grady's agent Raymond Sparkes and the club are still nowhere near to agreeing terms-but following fresh developments yesterday the player, who threw his shirt and boots into the Bobby Cox stand at the end of the game in what looked like a parting gesture, revealed that he has not given up on extending his stay at Dens.

"I spoke to Peter Marr this morning and he'll be talking to my agent next week SO there could still be time to sort something out," said Grady.

"I am optimistic. I have had three good years here and why end that?

"But it's up to them now (Marr and Sparkes) and until I hear whether I am getting some security for my family it's hard to predict how things are going to work out."

In admitting that it is length of contract as well as financial matters which the parties have still to reach accord on, Grady, whose representative is rumoured to be looking for a £1000 a week increase for him, denied his demands were excessive

"I am not looking to get into the Henrik Larsson league. I just want a deal that provides some security for me and my family."

For Dons front man Arild Stavrum, whose contribution yesterday took to 12 goals his tally this term, hardly had the dust began to settle on the league than he was turning his thoughts to cup matters and musing on the effect their shock defeat by Motherwell might have on Rangers.

"This was a hard game for us and to beat Dundee 2-0 away from home having lost 1-0 to them at home a few weeks ago is a good result," he said.

"I hope Rangers will be feeling less confident after today because we need for them not to be at their best and for us to be at our best to have a good chance in the final."

Aberdeen are also going to have to be far more sound at the back than they were against Dundee if they are to stand an earthly for defending of the type which has characterised their league season very nearly ensured they surrendered an early lead yesterday.

Right-back David Lilley took so long to launch the ball upfield from the right hand edge of his own box that he was dispossessed by Willie Falconer. The ball broke to James Grady who played it into the path of Falconer and his netbound effort failed to find it's intended target only because Thomas Solberg got his body in the way.

The Dons it was though to broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when an Andy Dow corner was flicked on at the near post by Solberg, prodded goalward by Lilley then forced over the line by Stavrum.

Dundee appealed in vain for the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot when a Steven Boyack shot struck the arm of Solberg then substitute Francisco Luna-on for the injured Billio dived to head narrowly wide a Barry Smith cross before testing Jim Leighton with a low driven effort from 25 yards.

Yet for all that they were in the ascendancy during the first-half the Dark Blues might have fallen further behind just before half time when Robbie Winters, who had replaced the woefully ineffective Zerouall, could not get sufficient height into his jump to head home an Andy Dow centre which had found him completely unmarked on the edge of the six yard box.

Zerouali looked none too happy at being removed from the game, throwing his jersey in among the visiting support en route to the dressing room.

But manager Skovdahl revealed he had replaced the Moroccan because he believed Zerouali was injured and wanted to come off.

"I was told he had some problems with his ankle and he gestured that he wished to be replaced," said Skovdahl.

"I saw that he was unhappy but I don't know why. I will have to speak to him in the morning."

Only a quite astonishing reflex save from the 41-year-old Leighton, playing possibly his last ever league game, denied Dundee an equaliser early in the second period the former Scotland star somehow sparing Solberg from turning a Barry Smith cross into his own net, with an instinctive tip over.

And that stop gave Aberdeen the platform from which to go on and win the match.

With 61 minutes gone they went two up as Winters knocked a Leighton kick-out into the path of Jess who steadied before despatching the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Robert Douglas's charge from the edge of the area.

Dundee spent the remainder of the afternoon striving to find a way back into the game but they lacked a cutting edge.

The closest they went to netting was when Luna headed wide from a Boyack centre with Leighton rooted to his line while only two fine saves from Douglas, denying Rachid Belabed and Stavrum, prevented the Dons from running out more comfort able victors.

Two players Lee Wilkie (chopping down Winters) and Cato Guntveit (throwing ball away in disgust when a decision went against him) were yellow carded.

Match report written by The Courier