Stranraer 0
Dundee 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

A refereeing decision that few in the ground agreed with saw Dundee end up with just a point from the long trip to Stair Park. 'Scorer' Steven Robb was adamant that it was a goal saying, "I ran past at least one of their players to get to the ball, I certainly wasn't offside" but Alan Kernaghan said "It wasn't given and that's that."

He went on "We spoke to the linesman on this side, obviously not the one who gave the decision, and he seemed to think it was for the first shot."

Football First's re-run on Sunday lunchtime seemed to suggest though that no Dundee player was in an offside position as the move developed, Andy Ferguson surging down the right and cutting the ball back to Scott Robertson. The midfielder fired in a low shot that was blocked out by keeper Corr and fired home by the inrushing Robb.

Kernaghan's impressions of the general performance were, "I was frustrated more than disappointed. We managed to match their work-rate and determination, and we played a little bit of decent football, but unfortunately it was all from defenders and midfield. Our front players didn't look like creating or taking anything, that was disappointing and that bears out my frustration that it takes us to the 89th minute to have a real decent effort at goal.

"We were very fortunate that the Development Club dug deep and enabled us to stay overnight, and the preparations couldn't have been any better. The players have looked bright all week and it's just unfortunate that we didn't have that little bit extra today.

"We're building on performances but there's still not that cutting edge yet. "We're always under pressure to win, I'm under pressure to win from our supporters and my chairman, rightly so, and my players are under pressure to win from me. That's how the food chain works."

It wasn't just Kernaghan who had been frustrated, with the 100 plus travelling fans exasperated by a match which had seen Dundee on top at times, but hardly create a real chance. Barry John Corr in the Stranraer goal had made several saves from long-range shots, but none had seriously troubled him. At the other end just minutes before Robb's effort was ruled out, Paul Dixon was a little fortunate to not be penalised as man of the match Alan Jenkins went tumbling on the edge of the penalty area.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme