Dundee 2
Ross County 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Ross County faced a long trip back to Dingwall after a goal a piece from Dundee's strike force earned them a hard fought three points despite a slow start to the game. Mickael Antione-Curier was again on the score sheet to add to his two mid-week efforts: converting a penalty on half time following Colin McMenamin's headed opener.

Despite injury concerns over defensive pair Gary Mackenzie and David Cowan both were declared fit enough to take their place in the line-up after defeat against QOS on Tuesday. The only change came in the centre of the park with Darren Williams replacing Freddie Daquin. Chris Pozniak returned to the fold taking his place on the bench.

Ross County started the brighter of the two teams. A cross from Golabek on the left is over the head of Douglas but the stopper was able to get a hand to the ball to palm it away. From the corner the ball was cleared as far as Brewster who heads wide. Brewster

was again involved as he flicked the ball into Higgins whose shot across goal bobbled wide. A quarter of an hour had gone before Dundee created their first attack. Efrem was fouled deep into the County half allowing Shinnie to float the resultant free kick into the area but his effort inched narrowly

wide of the near upright into the side netting. Efrem exploded out of the midfield taking the ball forward from within his own half, culminating with a shot from distance. Curier was left a little less than impressed as the winger's shot ran wide despite other options being available.

With thirty minutes on the clock there were loud penalty claims from the home support as Malone looked to be wrestled to the ground by Strachan after beating the midfielder, but ref McCurry was unimpressed with the claims and waved play on.

However this was soon forgotten as mere moments later Colin McMenamin headed Dundee ahead. Paton's run to the by-line allowed him to cross perfectly for McMenamin to head past Malin for his first goal since the end of January.

This acted as a confidence booster as the home side continued to pressure their opponents as half time approached: Curier got the slightest of touches on Malone's shot but could only divert it past the post while Efrem had his effort cleared by the visitor's defence.

The Dundee pressure paid dividends on 45 minutes when Andy Dowie fouled Curier in the area gifting the Frenchman with the opportunity to net his thirteen of the current campaign, and the forward didn't disappoint, dispatching his penalty low and to the left sending keeper Malin the wrong way.

An uneventful second half saw Dundee maintain their lead and despite the visitor's creating chances the two goal advantage never looked in any real jeopardy.

Just after the restart Curier failed to time his run and was flagged for offside. Shinnie played a ball over the top which had Curier chasing in behind the defence, one on one with the keeper but with his angle narrowed he tried to pick out Efrem but his cross was over hit and the chance was gone.

County had a chance to break and find Brewster wide on the left but he couldn't get a cross in early enough for the attack to progress. This was the former United manager's last piece of the action as in the 62nd minute former Dundee forward Dyron Daal replaced the veteran. In their only other change of the game Michael Gardyne replaced Steven Craig.

In Dundee's best chance of the second forty-five Curier was played in down the left and got into the box before pulling it back for Shinnie whose fresh air swipe at the ball allowed the visitor's to clear.

Dundee saw the last few minutes out with relevant ease as Efrem and Shinnie won a succession of corners to keep the ball deep in the County half, and for the Dingwall side, frustratingly at the corner flag.

Match report written by Joanna Topping - Official Dundee website