Dundee 1
Greenock Morton 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

After the skills and emotion of the great win in Kirkcaldy this draw at home to Morton was a frustrating anti-climax.

The unbeaten run now extends to a remarkable 17 games, but Dundee were never able to rise to the heights they reached in midweek against Raith. They couldn't move the ball around as fluently and effectively and had to settle for a point against a Morton team who deserved to leave Dens with a draw.

Craig Robertson retained his place to play his second match as a trialist and Gary Irvine returned to his usual right back spot, with Jonathan Stewart dropping onto the bench.

Dundee started quietly but patiently, preferring to retain possession rather than rush the ball forward. However, as the match went on, and especially in the second half, what had looked like canny probing gradually turned into a flat and lifeless performance. We were expecting the players to tire on Tuesday night, but it was today that the efforts of maintaining this amazing run seemed to take its toll.

In the first 20 minutes Dundee looked at their most dangerous when they allowed Riley and Forsyth to run at the defence. Riley in particular was one of the few who managed to maintain his performance throughout. He was deservedly the man of the match nominated by DFCSS, the match sponsors.

In those early stages Gary Harkins was influential and effective playing just behind Sean Higgins. But it was when he dropped deeper to set up an attack that he finally opened up the Morton defence. Playing a quick one-two with Robertson he worked the ball forward to HIGGINS who spun on the edge of the area and finished beautifully just inside Cuthbert's left hand post. Nicky Riley came closest to adding a second. He drove into the penalty area with a delightful mazy and shot, which Morton keeper Kevin Cuthbert managed to juggle round the post.

Ex Dee, Derek Lyle, wasted Morton's best opportunity just before the break. He seemed to have the chance to run in on goal but his heavy first touch left him with a difficult angle and he shot wide across the face of Douglas's goal.

In the second half Dundee never managed to put their passing game together effectively. The players were obviously trying, but the passing wasn't quite coming off. Morton gradually started to assert themselves, without looking particularly impressive or dangerous at first. More of the play was taking place in the Dundee half, and Morton's confidence was visibly increasing. They clearly believed that they were capable of getting back into the match and their pressing slowly became more purposeful.

Rab Douglas had to pull off a fine save from Lyle after Dundee failed to clear the ball. The equaliser wasn't long in coming, arriving with 14 minutes to go. A corner was half cleared. The ball was played quickly back in and broke kindly for Allan JENKINS, who was left with a simple chance to stab the ball into the net from six yards.

This time Dundee couldn't lift themselves to provide an effective response. Throughout the whole of the second half they couldn't create any good chances. The nearest they came was a late curling shot over the bar from O'Donnell.

The last home game finished in a whirlwind of noise, emotion and passion. This time the match drifted to a draw in tame fashion with neither side able to raise themselves for a late charge.

Morton were well worth their point. They didn't lose heart when they went behind. They kept trying to play their way back into the game till they got their goal. It was hardly a classy footballing performance, but it was a good team display that allowed them to graft their way to a deserved point.

The Dundee players have been heroes in this run. Some of them have been playing through injuries, turning out week after week instead of having the break that would be possible in a larger squad. On this occasion they couldn't lift themselves again to take all the points, but the unbeaten run continues and the players have a full week to recover after a tough three games in the last week.

Happily the supporters applauded the players off the park, recognising their fantastic efforts in recent months. They've done far more for us than we ever expected. Any sense of disappointment that we feel is simply because of the astonishingly high standards these players have set for themselves.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website