Dundee 3
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Tam McManus scored on his debut as Dundee dragged their way off the foot of the table by beating an impressive Inverness Caledonian Thistle side.

Tam hit the target early in the second half to double the lead given to Dundee by Stevie Robb's 28th minute solo effort. The points were wrapped up eleven minutes into the second half when Stuart McCaffrey handled Fabian Caballero's shot. John Sutton scoring from the spot. Caley Thistle pulled one back late on, through the always dangerous Craig Brewster, but Dundee could reflect on a job well done in beating the highland side.

The visitors had the first real chance when Roy McBain's corner from the right was caught by the strong wind and Soutar had to be alert to get along his goal-line and punch the ball to safety.

The Dees hit back and only a superb tackle by Grant Munro denied McManus a first scoring opportunity at his new club. The Inverness defender was alert when Neil Barrett slid a fine ball towards McManus and made an excellent saving tackle, as the striker was about to pounce.

Craig Brewster was proving a handful for the Dundee defence, but he wasted a great opportunity after holding off Macdonald only to blaze his shot high from little more than six yards.

Steve Robb had been a target for Caley Thistle boss Brewster before signing his new Dens contract on Thursday, and he showed exactly why they had desired his services when he scored a superb opener in 28 minutes. Driving past three defenders, he had loads of time to fire a low shot under Mark Brown, a task he executed with ease.

Dundee's defence went to sleep for a moment right after the goal, and could have been caught out as Darren Dods rose to head goalwards, but his effort was too high.

Brewster's men upped the pace to try to grab a pre-half-time equaliser and Dundee had Derek Soutar to thank for keeping them ahead as he twice pulled off fine saves.

First he got down at his near post to deny former 'Dee Graham Bayne and then pulled out all the stops to tip over a quite fantastic strike from Brewster.

The half time interval gave Dundee the opportunity to regroup, and they started the second period in a higher gear. That opening spurt caused

confusion in the visitors defence and paid dividends three minutes in as Caballero fired in a shot that Brown could only parry, and McManus had rushed in to pick up the scraps leaving him with a simple nod home.

As Dundee charged forward down both flanks through youngsters Robb and McNally, Caballero was more influential, and eight minutes after McManus' goal he was again involved as Dundee made it three.

The Argentinean had a goal bound effort blocked, but this time it was by the hand of defender McCaffrey and referee Mr Freeland pointed to the spot. In the absence of the suspended Steve Lovell, John Sutton assumed the penalty takers responsibility and fired home. with some authority to make sure all three points would stay at Dens.

On 66 minutes, youngster Scott Robertson came on for his league debut replacing McManus, who left the arena with the home the support chanting his name.

A three-nil lead was very welcome for Dark Blue fans who had only seen Dundee that far ahead once previously this term, but it was desperately hard on a visiting side who had contributed a lot to an enthralling afternoon's football.

They'd had many more efforts on goal than Dundee, massively led the corner count, and continued to play their part in a match which was swinging from end to end by now.

Brewster, in particular, deserved a goal, showing that he is still a quality striker, and he got his due reward in the final few minutes as from a retaken Wilson free kick, he ghosted in at the back post to nod home.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme