Hamilton Academical 0
Dundee 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Dundee dictated but couldn't pierce the home rearguard at New Douglas Park on a day when defences dominated. The Dark Blue backline were particularly comfortable on an afternoon when attempts on target were at a premium. While Dundee had quite a few attempts on goal, they only twice looked likely to score, David McEwan in the home goal making good stops from a Craig O'Reilly drive and Simon Lynch's flicked volley. Young Scott Murray, had a quiet afternoon in the Dark Blues' goal, Accies having only two efforts on goal, and only one of them requiring a save.

lain Anderson returned to the starting eleven with Garry Brady dropping to the bench, with the only other change to the side that had begun the Airdrie match on Monday being Scott Murray's inclusion in goal in place of Kelvin Jack who missed out with a knee injury. Kelvin's absence meant that schoolboy and under-17 keeper Jamie Kelly was on the bench, where top scorer Simon Lynch joined him, fit again after missing the Boxing Day match through illness.

On a chilly day in Lanarkshire the New Douglas Park artificial turf must have provided one of the better surfaces in the country but the ball showed a tendency to zip away from players at key moments, and there wasn't much football on display, what there was came from Dundee though.

Callum Macdonald came close with a header after eight minutes, his effort being just off target after keeper McEwan had missed a cross but the keeper made amends in 37 minutes with a marvelous save to deny Craig O'Reilly. The young striker's shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection but the keeper reacted brilliantly to tip it around the post.

In between those efforts O'Reilly had fired a volley over and Murray had raced from his goal to smother a through ball aimed for Graham Jones.

Steven Craig had gone over on his ankle and was struggling by the interval so it was no surprise when he didn't emerge for the second half, Lynch taking his place.

Dundee still looked the more likely after the interval and lain Anderson fired in a long-range effort that drifted wide but despite hard work all over the park they couldn't make the breakthrough.

Finally with just twenty minutes left Accies had their first shot of the match, a speculative effort from Gilhaney that went well wide. And a minute later Brian Carrigan fired in a direct free kick that actually brought Murray into action, the keeper getting down to comfortably save.

In seventy-seven minutes McEwan again excelled to keep the score- sheet blank denying Lynch after the striker had flicked Bobby Mann's cross goalwards.

Dundee pressed towards the end but the Accies defence held firm and the Dark Blues couldn't create another real chance.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme