By Dundeefc.net
April 25 2002

The mini slump is quickely developing into a crisis as Dundee made it seven games without a win, and sees Ivano frantically trying to strenghten a squad crippled by injuries. Lets hope Wee Dario returns from the Far East with Zhiyi in tow!

Dunfermline 1(Hampshire 26)
DUNDEE 0

Attendance: 5,094

Referee: Kenny Clark

Langfield Del Rio, Smith, MacKay, Khizanishvili Forbes, Rae, Robertson, Garrido Caballero, Sara

Subs: Milne (for Sara 63)Mathers, Boylan, Gatti, Fatello

Sent Off:
Dunfermline:-
Dundee: -

Booked:
Dunfermline:Rossi, Ferguson
Dundee: Del Rio, Caballero

Ivano gave starting slots to both Barry Forbes and Dave Mackay due to the extensive injury list at Dens.

Also back in the starting eleven was Juan Sara, however it was doubtful if he was match fit and be able to last a full 90 minutes.

Both sides were going into the game on the back of some abysmal form - Dunfermline having lost 7 SPL games in a row and Dundee without a win in 6.

Dundee managed their first shot on target in 15 minutes when Gavin Rae gathered a loose ball in the centre of the park, he pushed forward and unleashed a vicious shot which Pars keeper Thomson did well to get his body behind and save.

Barry Forbes hooked in a near post shot five minutes later but Thomson was well positioned to cancel the danger.

A few nigly tackles were flying around and the simmering mood boiled over as Ian Ferguson was booked for a nasty lunge.

Dundee were still looking shaky at the back and tension mounted when Hampshire rose unchallenged to meet a far side cross by Petrie. He nodded the ball downwards to catch out Jamie Langfield and it spun in off his heel for the opener in Dunfermline's first attempt on target in 25 minutes.

Zura Khizanishvili picked out Juan Sara in the box in 28 minutes but his looping header dropped on the roof of the net after forcing Thomson to scamper back to usher the ball over.

De Gier was giving Walter del Rio a difficult time and in 30 minutes del Rio was booked for a foul on the Dutchman.

The Pars came within inches of making it 2-0 as Rossi fired in a shot which went through the defensive wall and hurtled inches beyond the right post with Jamie Langfield beaten.

Dunfermline managed their first corner just after the half hour and Nicholson flighted it over for Petrie to blast high and wide.

Dundee threatened when Fabian Caballero floated in the ball from the right after a neat run.

As Juan Sara prepared to meet it he was beaten by a superb header from Rossi just on 37 minutes.

The first half ended with a miscued volley from Juan Sara which he dragged wide of the left post.

Dunfermline almost claimed a second on 49 minutes, however, were denied by a stunning save by Jamie Langfield from a Ferguson strike.

A corner was scrambled out to the edge of the box and the Dunfermline captain neatly chested the ball down then drilled in a powerful low shot which Jamie Langfield hurled himself down to push away for a corner.

Dundee know began to show a bit more determination and aggression and were enjoying the bulk of possession and forced a succession of corners, only to find Thomson in fine form.

Ivano brought on Steven Milne in place of Juan Sara on 63 minutes.

Beto Garrido got on the end of another great corner to power a header into the turf and force Thomson back to haul the ball under the bar in 64 minutes.

Fabian Cabellero, who spent the entire 90 minutes on the pitch swarming around the Dunfermline rearguard, was becoming frustrated at the lack of service and absence of decent support play.

Yet Dundee still tried to salvage something from the match late in the day.

Suddenly showing the urgency and grit that could have given them a bigger say in the outcome had they displayed it earlier, they spent the final 20 minutes of the match charging at the home side.

Fabian Caballero then hooked a dreadful shot across goal from a good position a few minutes later.

Pars striker Crawford made a magnificent opening on the left, dragging the ball neatly behind to deceive Barry Smith, but his cross came to nothing.

At the other end Thomson fumbled a high ball from Walter del Rio in 78 minutes and scrambled the ball away, before falling to the ground with a knee injury. But he recovered after treatment to play on.

Dunfermline looked shaky and the final whistle arrived to a collective sigh of relief to the Pars fans and abject dissapointment to the travelling Tayzurri.