Dundee 0 Dunfermline 1
Wednesday, 21st Feb 2001Scottish Premier League
Barry Nicholson (12) 0-1:
A 1-0 victory at Dens Park gave the Pars their third away win of the season and takes them into 5th position in the SPL. This win over fellow top six contenders Dundee puts Dunfermline in a strong position five points ahead of Motherwell in 7th and seven points ahead of Dundee.
There was not much excitement to keep the fans warm in a dull second half where Dunfermline gave a fine defensive display to win by a 12th minute Barry Nicholson goal.
Youssef Rossi was in Morocco on World Cup duty, Andy Tod retained his place, Garry Mason was on the bench and changed places with Jason Dair. Marinus Dijkhuizen was also relegated to the bench to make way for the return after injury of Stevie Crawford.
Dundee were without Sara, Nemsadze and Tweed all out suspended and according to Ivano Bonetti a number of Dundee players started despite not being fully fit.
There was no repeat of the 12 second goal witnessed between the teams back in August. Instead the first opportunity fell to Dunfermline`s top goalscorer David Moss as a high Justin Skinner lob fell to Mossy in space not far out of the penalty box but he failed to take advantage.
From a Ruitenbeek goal kick after 12 minutes Stevie Crawford was able to play a square ball out to his right where Barry NICHOLSON struck from 20 yards out. His hot hit Marcello Marrocco on the back as he turned away from the shot and was deflected passed a helpless Marco Roccati into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
There was an appeal for a penalty three minutes later when Andy Tod chested down from Carranza in the centre of the penalty box. With what must have been the local temple of the Hari Krishna striking up the music Dundee pushed up and Willie Falconer met a Caniggia cross but the header was well saved by Ruitenbeek.
Referee Tom Brown blew full time on his match in a bizarre moment when he ran to the Dundee dugout in the 26th minute holding his arm. The referee limped off with what turned out to be a fractured finger. Andy Tod`s pass had hit the referee a few minutes earlier and one has to assume that it was the Kelty man`s fault that the official took an early bath.
Fourth official, Glasgow whistler Colin Hardie quickly ripped of his track suit top to reveal the yellow shirt and the substitution went ahead fairly seamlessly. It must be one of the few occasions that Tom Brown has been applauded off the park by both sets of fans.
A misplaced pass from skipper Fergie let Caniggia away down the wing and Marco was forced to save from Falconer. Carranza then had a cross from the left saved off Falconer`s header by Marco.
Beto Carranza and Steven Milne were substituted before the break as Dundee`s injury problems got worse. Half time came and it was the Dunfermline support who were on song as they celebrated the half time lead.
Whilst Dundee emerged for the second half looking like they had had a stiff half time team talk, it was Dunfermline who produced the first chance of the half. Chris McGroarty sent the ball out left for Scott Thomson and he beat off the defence to advance into the penalty box and cut back towards Stevie Crawford. The pass was unfortunately cut out before it could reach the Pars no. 9.
The Dundee fans drew in a big breath on 49 minutes ready to celebrate a goal as Javier Artero`s cross landed on the head of Lee Wilkie but the big Dundee laddie managed to head over the crossbar and deflate his supporters. Andrius Skerla picked up a yellow card for his challenge on Caniggia before Dundee yet again threatened to draw level.
Wilkie was able to drive in on goal down the right defensive flank but Marco was good enough to stop him. Dundee had been able to win and keep a lot of the possession but their efforts had borne no fruit and they gradually looked less and less likely to score.
After 56 minutes David Moss started and finished a move with Scott Thomson which ended with the ex Bairn heading with little venom at Roccati. Just two minutes later McGroarty cut one back for Thomson but the shot was too weak to carry any hope of beat the Dundee keeper.
Dair found Thomson next and as he travelled along the edge of the box without finding an opening he passed it back to Ferguson who blasted wide from 25 yards. Lee Bullen came on for a very disappointed Moss. Toddy headed just over from a Dunfermline corner which came in the midst of three Dundee corners. Nothing came of those but an Artero cross looked dangerous until Rae headed over the crossbar.
Eleven minutes from time a Ruitenbeek throw out sent Bullen scurrying down the right wing. Lee`s cross could have been earlier and when it did it gave Thomson little opening and Crawford tried to send it out left to McGroarty but the ball slipped behind for a goal kick.
Dundee had a final fling with Artero shooting at Ruitenbeek and 18 year-old sub Marco Russo shot wide. Marco was forced out of his box to head a clearance on full time and preserved the clean sheet to set a Premier League record number of 12 shut outs for Dunfermline.
A fine win in which the defence excelled. Skinner and Skerla were solid, and "Youssef Toddi" ensured that nobody missed the absent Moroccan World Cup star.
SUBS NOT USED: Goran Zujovic, Jamie Langfield (GK),
DUNFERMLINE: Marco Ruitenbeek: Justin Skinner, Andrius Skerla, Andy Tod: Jason Dair, Barry Nicholson, Ian Ferguson, David Moss (Lee Bullen 64), Chris McGroarty (Michel Doesburg 85): Scott Thomson, Stevie Crawford.
SUBS NOT USED: Gary Mason, Marinus Dijkhuizen, Thomson (GK)
SCORERS: Nicholson (12)
YELLOW CARD: Skerla (51)
REFEREE: Tom Brown (Colin Hardie 26)
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE 6113
NEXT MATCH: (League) v Hearts Saturday 24th February 2001 (no tickets required)
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