Match report

Saturday, 29 November 2008
Saints have to work hard for share of derby spoils

IRN-BRU Scottish Football League First Division
Dundee (1) v Saints (1)
Attendance [6,537]

The biggest crowd of the Scottish Football League season – 6,537 - welcomed the teams onto the Dens Park pitch this afternoon as Dundee and Saints set about playing their game in hand as most other First Division sides took a break from the league to play Scottish Cup 3rd round ties.

Despite an expectancy that Stuart McCaffrey would be fit enough to return, Derek McInnes knew yesterday that the central defender would not make it and Kevin James therefore came into the side for his first start since the home defeat from Dunfermline in August. Jody Morris made his first start of the season in place of the suspended Martin Hardie while Kevin Moon came in for Paul Sheerin who was dropped to the bench. In a tactical switch, Steven Anderson moved to left back, allowing Liam Craig to pick up a left midfield role. Earlier in the morning the paperwork was finalised on the signature of experienced goalkeeper John Hillcoat, the 38 year old signing on an amateur contract until the end of the year and he took a place on the bench.

A tremendous number of Perth fans made the short journey to Dundee and some ten minutes after the start, late arrivals were having difficulty finding spare seats.

On the field, Saints were first to show with Liam Craig flashing an effort across goal just out of the reach of Steven Milne at the far post in seven minutes and just 60 seconds later Chris Millar was an early entry into referee Brian Winter’s notebook for pulling back Brian Deasley as the Dundee man broke forward.

Following two nights of sub-zero temperatures, the playing surface seemed to be slippery and despite the Dens Park undersoil heating system the area in front of the covered enclosure, untouched by the winter sun, remained white with frost.

A rare Gary Irvine error allowed David O’Brien to break free down the left hand side and when the young midfielder got 10 yards from goal he fired it square across the pitch but with no takers it ran out on the far side for a throw-in.

It was a real end to end affair although neither Alan Main nor Rab Douglas were being regularly tested but the experienced Dundee No 1 did have to react quickly to grasp a Kevin Moon long-ranger – the Saints midfielder pouncing after a Jody Morris free kick from the left had broken out to the edge of the box.

And it was a free kick at the other end that brought Alan Main into action – the strapping Mickael Antoine-Curier getting on the end of a free kick from the right – and he was equal to the task, getting down low to grab the ball.

Both teams had sparred with each other for the best part of half an hour without coming particularly close to scoring but that changed in 27 minutes when Saints took the lead with a straightforward goal. Alan Main kicked from hands down the centre of the park and when Derek Holmes and his marking defender challenged but missed the ball, Liam Craig found himself in possession and in space and he crossed for Steven Milne who took one touch before clipping it beyond Douglas and into the net.

The movement of the Dundee attack was keeping the Perth rearguard on their toes with Antoine-Curier and Deasley providing some troublesome off-the-ball runs but as the clock ticked onto 45 minutes it was simply a defensive error that gave the home side their best chance of the half. Kevin James gave possession away cheaply and that allowed Anton-Curier to get into the penalty box but when he squared the ball to Chris Pozniak, the Dundee number 8 fired straight at Alan Main who got down quickly to grab the ball – an effort either side of the Perth keeper would surely have brought an equaliser.

Saints were shooting towards the big Perth support in the second half and within the first minute they had won a free kick after Holmes was fouled and Rab Douglas needed two attempts to grasp Liam Craig’s curling effort which almost beat him low at his left hand post.

Kevin Moon was very harshly booked for a foul on Craig McKeown – the midfielder clearly won the ball in the challenge.

With his side showing signs of moving up a gear, new Dundee gaffer Jocky Scott wasted no time in making a couple of changes to try and push home this advantage and it certainly forced Saints back on their heels, not helped by a tendency to rush passes and give away possession. This was perfectly illustrated in 64 minutes when Steven Anderson – very impressive in the left back role – stepped into break up a swift Dundee counter-attack but then got careless and gave away possession to Deasley and Main had to react quickly to the resultant shot.

Paul Sheerin replaced Jody Morris in 69 minutes and although he looked on as Steven Milne sent a header from a Gary Irvine header wide, within four minutes of coming on he was powerless to prevent Dundee levelling the match.

Former Saints player Eddie Malone found himself with time on the ball wide on the left and when he sent over a low cross Antoine-Curier met it first time with his left foot and the ball was behind Alan Main and in the net in a flash. It was no more than the home side deserved.

Collin Samuel replaced Derek Holmes in 77 minutes but to some extent it looked like both sets of players were not too unhappy with a share of the spoils with neither team wanting to take a risk that might cost their side dearly late on.

That said, both sides could have scored a winner in the dying moments.
First up, Steven Milne found himself with only Rab Douglas to beat after he picked up a ball from the right but his first time parting effort was pushed aside by the big Dundee keeper for a fruitless corner kick. Then the ever-dangerous and well-placed Antoine-Curier fired the ball across goal with only Main to beat.

A draw was about the right result in this one with Saints having edged the first half but the home side much the dominant force after the break. Saints fans will be disappointed not to have put one over their arch rivals but against a much improved Dundee side this could prove to be a useful point indeed.

SAINTS: Main, Irvine, Craig, Morris (Sheerin), Rutkiewicz, James, Millar, Anderson, Holmes (Samuel), Milne, Moon.
Subs not used: Swankie, MacDonald, Hillcoat

DUNDEE: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Williams (McHale), McKenzie, McKeown, Danquin (Shinnie), Pozniak, Antoine-Curier, Deasley, O’Brien.

Referee: Brian Winter

PHOTOS
Top: Ex Saint Eddie Malone gets to grips with Gary Irvine
Bottom: Steven Milne fires us into a 1-0 lead