QUITE often visiting managers are content with a point on their travels. Jim McIntyre, the Ross County boss, though was less than satisfied as a result of this Dens Park stalemate
Liam Boyce’s disallowed header in 48 minutes was just one indication of their dominance which came to nothing in the absence of a killer touch in front of goal.
Despite stretching their unbeaten run to five games, there was no obvious sense of satisfaction coming from the Dingwall side who could only watch as Scott Bain, the Dundee keeper, defied them with a quite breathtaking save from Alex Schalk’s header towards the end.
“I’m not happy with a point with what we put into the game,” reflected McIntyre afterwards. “So from that side of things we’re disappointed because I felt we created much more than Dundee.
“It keeps the unbeaten run going, but we were excellent and the better side throughout.
“Dundee had one really good chance of note when Marcus Haber was clean through – but that was about it.”
Dundee had enjoyed a relatively comfortable 3-1 opening-day victory away to County in early August, but this was never going to be quite so straightforward.
Paul Hartley, their manager, handed Jesse Curran, their 20-year-old Australian midfielder, his first start, while County remained unchanged from their 2-2 draw with Hearts the previous weekend.
Indeed the Highlanders forged their first clear opportunity to take the lead as early as the third minute.
Christopher Routis’ corner picked out Andrew Davies, the captain, who was all alone, but his shot from 12-yards went straight into the arms of Bain.
Midway through the first-half, Jay McEveley fed Michael Gardyne inside the box, but his effort was gathered comfortably by Bain.
County began the second half in positive fashion and had the ball in the net within three minutes.
Gardyne’s cross was met by Boyce whose header beat Bain, but the Staggies striker was penalised by Euan Anderson, the referee, for a push on Dundee captain Darren O’Dea.
Dundee did attack whenever the opportunity arose. In 55 minutes, Wighton tried his luck with a dipping long-range shot which just went past the post.
Then, in 74 minutes, substitute Schalk set up Boyce who then put Routis through, but the French midfielder dragged his shot wide.
A minute later, Haber found himself clean through from Gomis’ punt forward, but the Canadian striker lashed wide of the target from 10 yards, before Schalk’s header from substitute Jonathan Franks’ cross was turned round the post by Bain.
“It was quite a frantic game at times,” insisted Dundee boss Hartley afterwards. “We had some good situations in the first half and Haber probably should have scored near the end, while Bain keeps us in it at the other end.
“You expect Marcus to hit the target but that happens, so we’re not going to be too critical.”
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