Dundee 2
Greenock Morton 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Mickael Antione-Curier scored his second goal in as many games to set Alex Rae's men on their way to a comfortable win at Dens Park which created little in the way of excitement or goal-scoring opportunity. It did however see the Dark Blues close the gap on league leaders Hamilton to four points as Billy Reid's men dropped point at St.Johnstone.

There were four changes made from the line-up which beat Motherwell on Monday with David Cowan, Paul Dixon, Colin McMenamin and Antione-Curier making their way into the starting eleven.

Skipper Ludo Roy retained his place in goal and showed his worth against Mark McGhee's men and he was on the ball within the first minute to tip away Jim McAllister's fierce cross.

With six minutes on the clock Eddie Malone's corner was cleared only as far as Kevin McDonald. His touch to McHale allowed the midfielder to carefully weight his pass back into the area with Antione-Curier on hand to net from six yards with keeper Lee Robinson's touch not enough to keep the scoreline level. Ludo was again on his toes to palm away lan Russell's shot from 18 yards before Gavin Swankie doubled Dundee's advantage. He picked up the ball and drove inside and beat keeper Robinson from just outside the area in the eighth minute.

In the 36th minute Chris Millar was cautioned by referee Alan Muir. The first half came to an end with the only notable point of interest being Ludo forced off with what looked to be a hand injury allowing Samson to enter the fray before David McGregor's headed effort came back of Samson's left upright and away.

The second half started where the first had ended, with neither team able to retain possession or break the defensive rearguard. Paul McHale found himself booked in the 57th minute as frustration began to show before Derek Lyle received a mixed reaction as he replaced goal-scorer Antione-Curier.

The second half talking point came in the 62nd minute when Chris Millar received his marching orders after Alan Muir adjudged him to have dangerously retrieved the ball from Swankie leaving the visitors with ten men and almost half an hour of the game still to play.

The cup exertions of the week previous looked to have taken their toll and with the three points looking safe Dundee soaked up the pressure of ten man Morton while attacking on the break with Swankie shooting wide after linking up Lyle and Kevin McDonald unable to get the ball from under his feet in time to release the shot.

In addition to the sending off of Chris Millar, Paul McHale and Barry Smith picked up bookings.

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website