By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002

SAT 14TH AUGUST

ABERDEEN 0 DUNDEE 2 (Falconer 29, 39)

Att:8134

Douglas Miller, Tweed, Smith, Maddison Boyack, Rae, Robertson, Yates Annand, Falconer

Subs: Bayne (for Yates 71) McSkimming for (Robertson 71) Raeside, Van Eijs, Langfield

Dundee picked up their first points of the season at Pittodrie and extended their five year run without defeat in the north east. A brace of goals from Willie Falconer secured the points during a first half which Dundee totally controlled. The slackness of previous weeks hasn't been completely eradicated however, and a better team than the dismal Dons (i.e. and other Premier League team) would have made a game of it as Dundee took the foot off the gas in the second half.

Lets however concentrate on the positive and there was plenty to be optimistic about during a first forty five minutes when the pace of Yates on the right and the heading ability of Falconer had the home team in disarray. Yates was making his full debut and tired badly as the second half progressed and he along with Hugh Robertson, who also had a fine match, were replaced with twenty minutes to go. Other pluses were the performances of Gavin Rae and Steven Boyack in midfield plus Barry Smith and (much criticised) Steven Tweed in central defence, although it has to be said their job was made easier by the pathetic service Aberdeen gave to their strikers for much of the game. As Dundee eased down Aberdeen had chances to score but Robert Douglas only looked troubled once, when Jess' late shot took a deflection but zipped over the bar off the keepers foot - After the events of last Sunday's match against Hibs Rab' deserved a bit of luck from deflections.

Dundee's goals came from simple unchallenged headers in 29 and 39 minutes with Willie scoring first from Robertson's cross and ten minutes later from Boyack's corner. By this stage Dundee should have been several more in front but the half time interval seemed to take the edge off their performance - Jocky Scott said afterwards that it wasn't a fitness problem but that 'good teams kill the game in these circumstances'. Using that formula we're not yet a good team - but we're a whole league better than Aberdeen.