Alloa Athletic 0
Dundee 1
League (Championship)

Match Report

Dundee moved two points clear at the top of the Championship with a 1-0 win over Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park. The Dark Blues put in a greatly improved performance and deserved to take the points with a goal from Peter MacDonald midway through the second half. The only disappointment for Dundee was a straight red card for Iain Davidson following an off the ball incident in injury time.

John Brown made two changes from last week. Martin Boyle replaced the injured Craig Beattie, and Kevin McBride came into the central midfield. Jim McAlister moved out to the left and Ryan Conroy dropped onto the bench.

Dundee started much the better side, and Martin Boyle's pace was a real problem for the Alloa defence. The Dark Blues were pressing effectively in midfield and forcing Alloa to give the ball away.

Jim McAlister was involved in just about every Dundee move in the first half hour, not just on the left wing but also cutting in to drive at the heart of the Alloa defence.

After five minutes Tiffoney lost the ball and McAlister found Boyle who raced away and fired narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

A great run by McAlister took him through on keeper Scott Bain, who blocked well with his feet. Martin Boyle then raced away down the left and found McAlister whose cross was headed over by MacDonald.

Peter MacDonald came close when Alloa defender Daryll Meggatt missed a high ball and Boyle's pass inside gave the Dee's top scorer a sight of goal, but his shot was deflected over the bar from eight yards.

Alloa eventually started to come more into the game and a neat through ball from McCord nearly released Cawley, but Letheren dashed from his penalty area to clear.

Late in the half Kirk turned a Doyle cross into the Dundee net, but the assistant referee's flag was already up for offside.

The Wasps started the second half strongly and had their best spell of the match in the 10 minutes after half time. Paul Hartley's team is always organised and capable of playing intelligent and incisive football. Twice in the early stages of the second half Alloa managed to open Dundee up with smart passing.

First Cawley swapped passes with McCord on the left and flashed a low shot across goal with no-one on hand to turn the ball in. Liam Caddis then led a fast break out of defence. Letheren had to save well from his low angled shot, then save again when McCord followed up from 20 yards.

The home side were playing much tighter and tougher on the Dundee strikers and nullified their threat for a spell. However, Dundee played their way back into the match and Boyle shot wide after taking Riley's cross and turning his man.

The Wasps' centre back Ben Gordon forced Letheren into a full length save following a corner, but the ball was heading just outside the post.

Alloa were now finding it harder to play their way into the Dundee penalty area and Dundee were looking the more dangerous side.

Exactly half way through the second half the Dee took the lead with a goal that was a reward for their pressing in midfield. Lockwood pounced on a hurried pass, raced down the left and exchanged passes with Riley. The full back hung a deep cross beyond the far post where Boyle headed back allowing Peter MACDONALD to nod the winner home from close range.

Dundee continued to press high up the field and threatend to add to their lead. Ben Gordon failed to deal with a Lockwood free kick into the box, sending the ball straight to Boyle. A brilliant save from Scott Bain prevented Dundee grabbing the crucial second goal.

The Dark Blues kept hunting for another goal, and Kevin McBride played Martin Boyle in on goal, but a great last ditch tackle by Meggatt saved the Wasps.

Alloa struggled to put the Dundee goal under serious pressure in the latter stages, and had to rely on set pieces to try and create chances. Dundee coolly kept their heads while looking dangerous on the break in the last few minutes. Two minutes into injury time Iain Davidson got involved with an Alloa player in an incident that most of the crowd missed but the far side assistant spotted. The refereee produced a red card, but Dundee were able to see out the remaining few minutes without any alarms. Happily for the Dee Kyle Benedictus was already on the field after replacing Peter MacDonald a minute before the end of regulation time.

Alloa Athletic are a very capable team under the impressive management of Paul Hartley and this was an excellent away win for the Dark Blues. There was more cohesion, urgency and fluency than in recent home games, and in Martin Boyle the Dee had a player with the sort of pace to worry even a defence as well organised as Alloa's. Now let's hope the fans at Dens can see Dundee build on this when Dumbarton visit next Saturday.

Alloa Athletic 4-4-2

Bain
Doyle, Gordon, Marr, Meggatt,
Tiffoney (Fern 73), Holmes, Caddis (McManus 73), McCord
Kirk, Cawley

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website