Dundee 4
Livingston 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

Dundee did the double over fifth placed rivals Livingston beating them for the second game in succession as they improved on their dismal first half display to score four goals which lifted them up into third place behind St.Johnstone and Partick.

The comparison between the first and second half performances can only be described as like night and day with Livi looking the likely winners after their first half showing.

There were two changes to the Dundee line-up: with Eddie Malone suspended Eric Paton moved to left back with David Cowan slotting in at the right. In the only other change to the starting eleven Kyle Benedictus replaced Jim Lauchlan (forced out through injury) in a straight swap at the back. Giorgos Efrem kept his place in the side after scoring on his debut against opponents Livingston two weeks earlier.

Livi were first out the blocks as front man One latched onto a searching ball forward but the Frenchman's volley ran wide. Leigh Griffiths, on his return from suspension, was next to test the Dundee rearguard. Eric Paton's free kick deep into the visitor's half was cleared for Griffiths to chase down but Douglas was quick off his line and his clearance rebounded off the striker sending the ball out for a goal kick.

The bulk of the possession was falling Livi's way and but for an interception from Shinnie One could have given his team the lead. However with eighteen minutes gone

Shinnie was presented with Dundee's best chance of the half. Cameron and Paton worked the ball around the box before finding Shinnie in space but the on-loan midfielder couldn't find get his shot on target allowing the visitor's defence to clear. Moments later Curier had the ball in the back of the net after it broke kindly to him in the box but the stand-side linesman flagged for offside.

Paul Hegarty was left ruing his side's luck half way through the first period as striker One somehow failed to score from six yards. Davidson's shot had the beating of Douglas but not the post as it fell kindly to One who embarrassingly hit the rebound into the legs of McKeown who had tracked back well to beat the ball to the goal line.

As half time approached a long ball over the top was collected by Winters and despite McKeown getting in a challenge the Livi man managed to stick a leg out to turn the ball towards goal but wide.

Almost instantly after the restart Dundee took the lead through Andrew Shinnie. The midfielder won the ball in the middle of the park before surging forward and despite having options on both left and right flanks he went alone and struck a sweet shot from distance over the keeper and into the back of the net. Livi then made their first change of the game: One replaced by De Vita.

New boy Efrem then completed his own double against the Almondvale side. The ball was played over the top of the visiting defence and Efrem and Curier both run free on goal but the winger continued forward, slotting the ball under McKenzie for his second goal in as many games.

This continued in raising the Dark Blues spirits as Efrem went close twice with shots that ran wide. The game as a contest was over in the 68th minute when Curier got his ninth goal of the season. The ball dropped kindly for the Frenchman to fire past McKenzie and despite the Livi player's protests the goal was given.

In an attempt to get themselves back into the game Livi made their second and third substitutions of the game: Jacobs and Halliday replacing Winters and Davidson.

Subs De Vita and Halliday both had shots cleared by Douglas before Dundee scored their fourth goal of the game through Curier. The forward again chased down a long ball behind the defence and slotted low past keeper McKenzie to mimic the score line back in October 2007 when an encounter at Dens was won by the home side after Dundee fought back from losing an early goal to win the game 4-1.

Goal scorer Efrem received a great reception as he left the field with ten minutes to go, being replaced by Gilhaney. However there was time for yet another goal as Livi pulled one back in the shape of second half sub De Vita. Paul McHale's last minute pass back to Douglas left the keeper flapping and despite saving from the forward's first effort the rebound fell kindly to De Vita who rolled the ball into the back of the net as mere consolation.

Livingston picked up two bookings in the game: Hamill and Innes finding themselves cautioned.

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website