Dundee Hope For Top Six After Aberdeen Draw

[JoeCovenant]

Source: The Evening Telegraph

Title challenge-busters Dundee maintained their own hopes of a top-six finish in the Premiership by taking a hard-earned point as Aberdeen visited Dens Park.

A second-half equaliser from Stephen McGinn earned a draw that at times looked unlikely but was testimony to the Dark Blues’ ability to hang in when not all is going their way. In what overall was a disappointing game, Paul Hartley’s men trailed at the interval to Adam Rooney’s 25th goal of the campaign.

Not for the first time in these clashes this term, had they been a bit sharper in the final third, the Dons could have had the game won by the interval. Despite a fiery surface that didn’t suit the passing style of either team, the visitors were well on top during the first 45 minutes. Rooney’s well-struck effort was reward for that.

They felt they should have had a penalty during that period when the ball was handled by Willie Dyer. TV replays confirmed that but also showed a Jamie Langfield challenge on Paul McGowan at the other end should have resulted in a spot-kick.

Unsatisfactory as referee Craig Thomson’s failure to spot the offences was, at least it was a case of his errors cancelling each other out. From Aberdeen’s point of view, the truth of another failure at Dens Park lay in them being unable to convert superior possession and territorial advantage into goals.

Because, as Dundee improved after the break, there was always the feeling one goal might not be enough.

So it proved as the otherwise excellent Ryan Jack committed the cardinal sin of trying to be too clever near his own goal. Instead of settling for conceding a throw-in, the midfielder stopped the ball on the line but was unable to halt his own momentum.

It took him off the park giving Alex Harris time to retrieve it and whip it in for McGinn to score with a neat flick at the front post. With just over 20 minutes left, there was still time for either team to go on and win the game but what transpired was a tame closing quarter that saw neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

The outcome for the Dons was two points dropped and surely the end of any realistic title dreams. And the fact they are dropping off the pace being set by Celtic at the top of the table has a lot to do with their results against Dundee.

Another two points were dropped at Pittodrie in January and those missing four points have cost them dear.

Add the Scottish Cup defeat at Dens in November and Derek McInnes and his troops must be sick of the sight of the Dark Blues.

More importantly from a local perspective, this was a good result for those Dens hopes of what would be a commendable top-six finish. It leaves Dundee two points behind sixth-placed Hamilton but with two games in hand and a fighting chance of achieving their target.

If they’re to do just that, fight is what will be required for with games coming up against the likes of Celtic and Dundee United before the split and every point will be precious. But as was again shown over these 90 minutes, this is a team that is prepared to fight. It’s been a while since they produced their best football but that has not prevented them picking up points on a regular basis.