Published: Monday, 25th August, 2008 12:30
Dens men deserve to win stodgy match
By Roger Graham
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DUNDEE 1 MORTON 0
My ball: Allan jenkins fends off Dundees Chris Pozniak.
Pic by: James McFadden
DUNDEE deservedly consolidated their lead at the top of the First Division after a match which was more to do with work ethic than flair.
Morton arrived set out in 4-4-2 formation, determined to adopt a more secure platform than that which saw them lose to Livingston at Cappielow the previous week.
To that extent the plan worked, though they will want to look at the goal they conceded. From Dundee’s point of view it followed a beautifully delivered inswinging corner from Daquin on the left, perfectly met by the inrushing Paton who headed strongly inside Cuthbert’s right-hand post. From Morton’s perspective it was a set piece which wasn’t defended properly.
Perhaps more worrying for the visitors was their failure to create chances. Their one real opportunity of the match came from a poor back-header by Dundee’s MacKenzie from a long ball upfield.
That let substitute Jon Newby have a clear run in on the Dundee goal but, as Rab Douglas came off his line, he blasted it and the goalkeeper produced an excellent save to his left to parry the shot.
Other than that, Morton were mainly restricted to a long ball game and two lines of four determined not to give the hosts an inch.
They now slip down the table into joint second bottom slot. There is a difficult trip to Easter Road tomorrow night in the CIS Cup, after which another away game awaits at Airdrie.
A promising enough start, with an away point at Clyde and a home draw with St Johnstone, has been eroded.
It is very early days yet, but the Airdrie match now assumes a definite importance. Morton can’t afford to wait too much longer for their first league win of the season.
The first threat came from the hosts in just six minutes when Daquin’s corner kick was knocked goalwards by Paton — a warning of what was to come later — and Cuthbert couldn’t hold onto the ball under pressure from Antoine-Curier and McMenamin.
It was scrambled clear and, four minutes later, Morton were forced to make a substitute when Kevin Finlayson limped off after a challenge, being replaced by Allan Jenkins.
Ryan McGuffie moved inside from the right side of midfield, Erik Paartalu going to centre right midfield to accomodate Jenkins to his left.
Dundee’s McMenamin was booked for a foul on Shimmin, then Peter Weatherson blasted a 25-yard free kick well over following a foul on Paartalu.
Morton’s start was solid enough, but it was Dundee who were to strike.
In 30 minute, Peter Weatherson was exposed on Morton’s right flank, being forced to bring down O’Brien for a professional foul which earned him a booking.
Following the free kick, Weatherson then dived into a tackle which led to a corner on the left. Daquin flighted the ball perfectly, no one picked up the inrushing Paton and he headed fiercely past Cuthbert at the near post.
It was virtually the last goal threat by either side until the interval, though a Brian Wake chip inside was just too high for Iain Russell.
Hardly had the new half begun when another set piece almost brought the Dark Blues a second goal. McHale took a corner on the right and home centre back MacKenzie was unmarked at the near post to head down, Cuthbert blocking the ball before it was cleared.
In 68 minutes Paton played in a good ball from the right, Alex Walker’s clearance falling to McMenamin whose shot was dragged past the left post.
In an effort to sieze the initiative, Morton threw on Jon Newby and Stevie Masterton for Peter Weatherson and Erik Paartalu and switched to an adventurous 3-4-3 formation and it almost paid off in 77 minuutes. MacKenzie’s headed passback was short and in nipped Newby. As Rab Douglas advanced to meet him he fired off a drive, Douglas bringing off a key save to his left.
Dundee then broke straight upfield, Gilhaney’s shot being saved by Cuthbert. It was left to Ryan Harding to clear away a McHale effort inside the six-yard box, the same defender knocking away a free kick from the left of the box.
It wasn’t a match to remember. Dundee, however, have laid down the gauntlet to the rest of the league.
They will be hard to beat and, as the experienced Rab Douglas said later: “It was a great, massive team effort. This bunch of boys is prepared to go a wee bit extra for everybody.”
It is a wee bit extra in terms of creativity that Morton are going to have to find to produce their first league win and begin to climb the table.
MORTON (4-4-2): Cuthbert 7; Weatherson 5 (Newby 72 4), Shimmin 7, Harding 7, Walker 6; Finlayson 4 (Jenkins 10 5), Paartalu 5 (Masterton 72 5), McAlister 6; Russell 6, Wake 7. Subs not used: McMcManus, Stewart.
Bookings: Weatherson 29.
DUNDEE (4-4-2): Douglas; Paton, MacKenzie, Williams, Malone; Daquin (Gilhaney 66), McHale, Pozniak, O’Brien; Antoine-Curier (Deasley 84), Griffiths.
Subs not used — Cowan, Davidson, Roy.Bookings: McMenamin 24.
Referee: John McKendrick 7.
Attendance: 4,032.
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