Dundee 1 - 0 Morton: Dundee pass tricky test

Published on Saturday 8 August 2009 21:07

THERE will be tougher tests along the way but Dundee duly did enough yesterday to confirm their widely-regarded status as First Division championship favourites.

Jocky Scott's side's victory didn't come easily with Sean Higgins' second-half strike all that ultimately separated the teams.

It was a classy kind of goal but, perhaps even more significantly, the hosts didn't buckle under the weight of expectation when things weren't going to plan and patience rather than poise told the story of this encounter.

"It's a great start," said Scott afterwards. "At times I felt the goal was never going to come but we stuck at it and all credit to the players."

City rivals Dundee United had fared well earlier in the day when they defeated Blackburn Rovers in a friendly but this was the start of the real stuff.

After weeks of anticipation, fans finally got the chance to see how their new-look side would fare. The locals who made their way into Dens Park scented an opening-day win with maybe even a bit to spare.

Their confidence stemmed from the capture of players such as Gary Harkins and Leigh Griffiths but it was a more familiar face who almost got them off to a flier.

Striker Colin McMenamin turning swiftly to fire in a snap-shot which 'Ton keeper Bryn Halliwell did well to smother.

It was never going to be easy and they faced the kind of obdurate opposition some would rather avoid at this stage.

Peter Weatherson's flashing header as the first half simmered along proved that, with deputy Dark Blues keeper Tony Bullock relieved to see it flashing wide from Stevie Masterton's whipped corner.

Then Jim Lauchlan was yellow-carded for rather crudely pulling back Weatherson before defensive partner Gary MacKenzie joined him in the referee's book for tripping Jim McAllister.

McMenamin had another opportunity within minutes of the restart. Richie Hart's cross was near-perfect but despite his best efforts he couldn't connect at the far post.

Sean Higgins, another close-season recruit, was denied by the outstretched hand of Halliwell in 55 minutes when you sensed a breakthrough wasn't far away.

That arose in 56 minutes. Harkins' precise pass found Paul McHale whose centre picked out Higgins for him to cutely tuck the ball into the far corner of the net.

The sense of relief simply spread. Scott's sides have never been known to go for the jugular although they did have openings in which they could have extended their lead, notably substitute Griffith's header from Harkins' angled cross going just a matter of inches wide before the end.