Dundee 4
Airdrieonians (2002) 0
Scottish Cup (Fifth Round)

Match Report

Dundee reached the quarter final of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with an emphatic 4-0 win over Airdrieonians at the ScotFoam Stadium. The Dark Blues blew the Diamonds away in a one sided first half. Clark Robertson gave the Dee an early lead and Lyall Cameron made it two midway through the half. Seun Adewumi and Cameron completed the scoring in the five minutes before half time. Although Airdrie stepped up their game in the second half, the Dark Blues’ victory had been settled before supporters tucked into their half time pies.

There were six changes to the Dee team. Jon McCracken, Clark Robertson, Ziyad Larkeche, Jordan McGhee, Lyall Cameron and Scott Tiffoney came in for Trevor Carson, Ryan Astley, Cesar Garza, Fin Robertson, and Mo Sylla, who were all named as substitutes, and Ethan Ingram.

The Dark Blues started brightly with a series of promising attacks. Dundee were finding space in Airdrie and won a series of corners without threatening the Diamonds’ goal.

The Dee were shaping up to dominate the match but were given a useful warning not to be complacent when Airdrie had the first serious goal attempt.

Adam Frizzell sent Ben Wilson away down the left and Chris Mochrie’s shot from the cross was stopped with a great block by Antonio Portales.

Dundee resumed their attacking and Kieran Wright in the away goal had to turn Jordan McGhee’s fierce shot from 22 yards over the bar.

The resulting corner brought the opening goal after 13 minutes. Lyall Cameron crossed to the far post and Clark ROBERTSON’s header flew through a crowd of diffident defenders and into the net.

The Diamonds insisted on trying to play football from the back against Dundee’s aggressive pressing and it cost them dearly. After 25 minutes it was 2-0 when Airdrie’s defence fell apart again.

Under pressure Dylan MacDonald sent a short backpass to Wright. Scott Tiffoney intercepted and, with the keeper out of position, he cut the ball back for Lyall CAMERON to score.

Dundee were in full control, constantly pushing for more goals. Josh Mulligan came closest, powering a shot narrowly wide after combining with Scott Tiffoney in a fast move down the right.

A rare Airdrie attack gave Dean McMaster room to shoot from 20 yards but Jon McCracken saved well.

The Dark Blues settled the tie with two goals in the last five minutes of the first half. Cameron had ample time and space approaching the penalty area to pick his pass. He found Tiffoney who sent Seun ADEWUMI in to tuck the third goal past Wright.

Four minutes later it was 4-0. Simon Murray’s pressing won the ball as Airdrie failed, yet again, to pass their way out from the penalty area. Selflessly he drew the keeper and set up CAMERON to score an easy goal.

Dundee started the second half in the same dominant style. Tiffoney’s low cross found Murray at the near post but Wright saved with his feet. Dundee were playing some lovely attacking football but couldn’t find a fifth goal.

After 15 minutes of one sided attacking by the Dark Blues Airdrie snapped into action and started to give Dundee a serious, competitive game. The last half hour were much more level and the Diamonds will consider themselves unfortunate not to grab at least one consolation goal.

In a remarkable four minute spell both teams hit the crossbar and Jon McCracken had to pull off two fine saves.

Adam Frizzell curled a free kick against the bar from just outside the penalty area and McCracken had to make a good save from Rhys Armstrong after Airdrie’s best move of the match.

Murray then controlled a cross from Mulligan and flicked a shot against the Airdrie bar. The Diamonds went straight up the park and McCracken saved with his feet from Liam McStravick.

After that breathless spell the game petered out with an uneventful closing 20 minutes. Victor Lopez was given his debut from the substitutes’ bench, and Joe Shaughnessy got a big ovation when he came on for his first appearance since April last year.

Lopez was lively and involved in a few worthwhile attacks, but the game was done and dusted by then. Dundee were focused more on keeping a clean sheet than chasing more goals.

After the two heavy defeats over the last week Dundee delivered exactly what was needed from this cup tie. The Dark Blues got an early goal to calm any possible nerves. When the second goal went in midway through the first half there was no doubt what the final outcome would be. The two goals late in the half meant the fans could relax while they enjoyed their half time refreshments. More goals would have been nice, but a clean sheet was particularly important after the last two games.

This performance was reminiscent of some of the league cup games at the start of the season. Dundee were lethal in attack and occasionally open at the back as they hunted goals.

When the Dark Blues are in this mood opposing teams can’t afford to make mistakes in their own penalty area. Airdrie failed to learn that lesson after their heavy defeat in August at the ScotFoam Stadium and suffered the same way again today.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website