Greenock Morton 0
Dundee 2
League (First Division)

Match Report

Kevin McDonald and Derek Lyle struck for the second week running to sign Dundee's first team action off until after Christmas in fine style. McDonald's fine first half strike from just outside the box set Dundee on their way and while Morton pressed after the break the Dee backline held firm and with just minutes remaining Lyle ran onto a through ball to net and spark joyous scenes as the players (pictured) and noisy travelling support celebrated a fourth win in a row.

A crisply cold day on the banks of the Clyde found Dundee in fine form as the kept the pressure on Hamilton at the top of the IRN BRU Scottish League First Division. Alex Rae restored Derek Lyle to the starting eleven in place of Jan Zemlik, the striker partnering Jani Sturm up front.

It was Morton started well though and in six minutes they came close as Peter Weatherson found lain Russell just outside the box, Craig Samson diving full length to deny the Greenock man.

Dundee weathered the early home pressure and when they broke seriously for the first time it was with devastating effect, some slick passing ended with Eddie Malone feeding the ball to Kevin McDonald with the Scotland Under 21 international drifting past two challenges and drilling his shot home from the edge of the box with thirteen minutes on the clock.

From that point until the final minutes of the first half the red shirted Dark Blues dominated, playing some neat football which only lacked a cutting edge, Eddie Malone came closest to adding to the score when he curled in a thirty fourth minute free kick from the right which home keeper Dave McGurn did well to tip over.

Samson had been a virtual spectator during Dundee's twenty minutes or so on top but Alex Rae's men were grateful for his safe pair of hands as the interval approached, the Dens custodian flying across his goal to tip a dipping Weatherson free kick behind for a corner.

It was inevitable that Morton would push forward after the break and they did, enjoying the bulk of post interval possession, the red shirts held firm though with only a couple of scary moments for the noisy and enthusiastic travelling support.

Eight minutes after the break Kevin Finlayson found Russell with a cross and the Dundee defence momentarily lost the home striker but he stabbed his effort narrowly wide of the post.

The pace picked up in the last ten minutes with Scott Robertson coming to the rescue in eighty one minutes as substitute Chris Templeman beat Samson with a header following a corner from the left, the midfielder being perfectly placed to clear off the line.

That let off seemed to tell Dundee that it was time to do some pushing forward of their own and with five minutes left Derek Lyle got free only to be denied by a fingertip save from McGurn, the ball whistling inches wide after the keeper's intervention.

From the corner Kevin McDonald came close to doubling his tally, the ball falling to him just outside the penalty area and his effort flying just wide.

As the game entered the final minute Derek Lyle secured the points for Dundee, racing onto a deflected through ball, shrugging off Jay Shield's challenge and slotting the ball under the advancing keeper before racing away to celebrate with the ecstatic away support.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme