Dundee 1
Greenock Morton 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Alex Rae kept faith in the strike pairing of McMenamin and Curier who failed to find the net against Airdrie the week previously while there was a place on the bench for David Cowan who returned after his head knock against Clyde. That meant Dundee lined up with the central partnership of Williams and Mackenzie with Eric Paton and Eddie Malone completing the back four for the second week in a row. David O'Brien replaced Mark Gilhaney, who dropped to the bench, in the only change to the team.

Morton controlled the early stages forcing Mackenzie and Williams into headed clearances from lan Russell and Kevin Finlayson attacks before Ryan McGuffie's volley from 18 yards skimmed over the bar.

The home side's first attack came from a set- piece as Paul McHale's corner found Eric Paton with Antione-Curier reacting first to reach the ball but his shot was pushed around the post by Cuthbert.

Play was then held up as Kevin Finlayson received treatment for a knock but the midfielder was eventually replaced by Alan Jenkins in the 10th minute.

Neither side managed to maintain a decent spell of possession and chances were few and far between with both Douglas and Cuthbert relatively untested.

Weatherson and Malone both shot over from set-pieces before the deadlock was broken in the 28th minute. Daquin cut in from the right and laid the ball off for McHale to cross wide to O'Brien with the wide-man's shot blocked by Shimmon. From the resultant Daquin corner Eric Paton rose above the defence to send the ball high into the net from the near post.

Home fans half hearted appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee McKendrick when McMenamin looked to be held down in the box as the first half petered out.

In contrast to end of the first half the second started livelier as Dundee won a corner almost from the restart after good work from Curier. McHale found Mackenzie at the front post but the defenders header was equalled by Cuthbert who got down well to save at the base of the upright.

Erik Paartalu's long throw into the box eluded everyone but Darren Williams who stabbed the ball clear at the back post. lan Russell then just failed to connect to Wake's cross from the by-line as Davie Iron's side searched for the equaliser.

Colin McMenamin should have slotted home his first of the campaign in the 68th minute after Paton's through ball but although his shot had the beating of Cuthbert the ball rolled narrowly wide.

In their quest for a point Morton made a double substitution with Masterton and Newbie replacing Paartalu and Weatherson respectively.

Gary Mackenzie, who had looked solid all afternoon misjudged a ball over the top and sub Newbie found himself one on one with only Douglas to beat. The keeper has earned rave reviews since his return and yet again proved his worth as Mackenzie made up for his earlier error by clearing Wake's rebound shot.

Gilhaney, on as a replacement for Daquin, raced out of midfield before laying the ball off to McMenamin who's cross was knocked down by O'Brien to McHale but the captain's shot was blocked on its way to goal

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website