FC Augsburg 2
Dundee 0
Friendly

Match Report

Dundee went down 2-0 to FC Augsburg in the first of their double header of friendlies against German opposition in Austria.

Manger Jocky Scott told us that the match had been "A worthwhile exercise, it was a good workout against decent opposition, the two goals we lost were poor from our point of view - I thought there was a hint of offside about the first one though - but we played reasonably well - I thought some of our football was very good at times. It's our first game and Augsburg had already played several times."

There were starting Dundee debuts for Bullock, Brian Kerr and Richie Hart, while a rash of second half substitutions saw Sean Higgins, Pat Clarke and Gary Harkins get their first outings in the club colours as pretty much every player on the trip got some game time - Jocky said "Those who came on second half will all start against Borussia Mönchengladbach tomorrow with the exception of the two young lads" (Ross Grant and Jordan Timmons - who played the last quarter hour of the game).

Craig Forsyth had been previously seen as a full back but Jocky Scott had intimated that he he saw the youngsters future further up the pitch and he reveled in the freedom of his new role - In the fifth minute he was only denied by a superb fingertip stop from Augsburg keeper Lucas Kruse and had another chance shortly afterwards when he couldn't hit the target from Richie Hart's cross.

Dundee looked lively going forward but at the other end the FC Ausburg forwards were giving the Dens defence a touch time in the 29 degrees centigrade heat.

Further chances came Dundee's way through the opening forty five minutes with a Darren Young effort deflected past the post for a corner. The Dark Blues thought the had taken the lead when Richie Hart's effort looked as if it was heading into the net but Andrew Sinkala blocked and the Augsburg defender came to the rescue again of his team again, this time by foul means, when he handled to prevent Colin McMenamin having a free run in on goal.

While all that was going on, though, the German's were causing problems for the Dark Blues back line and they gained tangible reward when Kyle Benedictus was left with two Augsburg strikers to deal with as a Dominik Reinhart ball was played into the centre of the Dark Blue rearguard, The ball fell to Michael Thurk and while Benedictus managed to push the former Eintracht Frankfurt man wide the striker managed to clip the ball over Tony Bullock as the debutant raced from his goal.

Dundee did managed to restrict the chances that fell to the Germans but danger man Thurke was in top form and late in the opening period he forced Bullock into action, the keeper making the save from Thurke - one of them of excellent quality.

Ausgburg understandably, after four previous pre-season outings, looked more match fit and they pressed as the second half started and Dundee began to wilt in the heat - Benedicus and Gary MacKenzie were at full stretch to deny substitute Stephan Hain and then Bullock pulled off another fine stop to thwart Edmond Kapplani.

Kapplani, though, wasn't to be denied and in 55 minutes he made it 2-0, Bullock getting a touch on his effort but only being able to divert it onto the underside of the bar on it's way goalward.

The Germans went for more and Bullock was called into action again to prevent Kapplani doubling his tally, the keeper saving with his legs.

Dundee needed to change things to get back on track and Jocky Scott made a quintuple substitution in the 62nd minute, Eric Paton, Colin Cameron, Gary Harkins, Pat Clarke and Sean Higgins replacing David Cowan, Paul McHale, Colin McMenamin, Brian Kerr and Darren Young - three minutes later Jim Lauchlan came on for Kyle Benedictus and with the fresh legs the Dark Blues regained a competitive edge.

With twelve minutes to go the two youngster on the trip got an unexpected first team outing, Ross Grant and Jordan Timmons had only gone on the trip for experience and to make up the numbers in training games but Jocky gave them a run in the top team - the pair replaced Craig Forsyth and Richie Hart.

Timmons nearly made a quick mark as he raced onto Eddie Malone's cross with ten minutes left but the youngster sidefooted his effort over the bar.

Match report written by Official Dundee website