Betfred Cup: Dunfermline claim points as Dark Blues disappoint

Fifers go home happy as they cruise to deserved win over Premiership side

Dundee’s first competitive fixture at Dens this season ended in a disappointing defeat as they lost out to Dunfermline in the Betfred Cup.

The Pars took an early lead through Jackson Longridge and went on to dominate large spells of the game.

The Dark Blues were not helped by injuries to key players during the game and they did come agonisingly close to equalising in the second 45, rattling the woodwork.

However, Dunfermline held on to take the points and plaudits in this Group D match.

Dundee boss Neil McCann made just one change from the side that beat Stirling Albion 4-0 in the same competition last weekend, with Kharl Madianga being drafted into midfield for his first start in place of Glen Kamara, who had picked up an ankle injury in training.

Pars manager Allan Johnston kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Peterhead 3-0 in midweek, although there was no place in his squad for on-loan Dark Blues Faissal El Bakhtaoui and James Vincent, who were not allowed to play against their parent club.

Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause for legendary Dundee striker Alan Gilzean who passed away recently.

The fans had barely taken their seats again before the Pars stormed into the lead in just the second minute.

Ryan Williamson galloped down the right before sending a pinpoint cross towards the Dundee back post and Longridge made no mistake with a bullet header past home keeper Jack Hamilton for his first goal for the Championship side.

Dundee were then forced into an early change in the 13th minute when Sofien Moussa, captain for the day, had to be stretchered off with what looked like a back injury. He was replaced by young Matty Henvey.

The home side had a big let-off soon after when a long ball from Joe Thomson flew all the way through to Myles Hippolyte in splendid isolation inside the home penalty area, with the striker looking surprised not to be judged offside. His half-hearted strike was easily gathered by Hamilton.

The same Pars player then had another opportunity when the home side failed to defend a free-kick properly but again Hippolyte was denied at close range by the Dark Blues keeper.

As the half-hour mark came and went, the Pars were looking comfortable while McCann’s men were struggling to land a glove, with Lee Robinson a virtual spectator in the Dunfermline goal.

Dundee then made their second change of the half in the 36th minute with Jesse Curran coming on for left-back

Nathan Ralph.

Just three minutes after the restart, Robinson was finally called into action when he had to tip a speculative effort by Elton Ngwatala over his crossbar.

Dundee had their best chance of the game in the 57th minute when Cammy Kerr played a ball to Jean Mendy inside the Pars penalty area but the striker’s flicked effort sailed on to the roof of the net.

Hippolyte was next to come close with a 20-yard shot that flew just over before Hamilton’s heart was in his mouth when he could only parry a long-range James Craigen strike, but no Pars player could capitalise.

The home side could count themselves desperately unlucky not to equalise in the 73rd minute when Ngwatala hit a superb left-foot strike from just outside the Pars penalty area, but his shot rebounded off the bar, with Henvey failing to capitalise when the ball was played back in.

Robinson then came to the Pars’ rescue seven minutes later with a fine save as he acrobatically tipped a Mendy header over his bar.

The Pars saw out the rest of the game with the 500 travelling fans celebrating at the final whistle.

Attendance – 2,870.

Dundee: Hamilton, Kerr, Ralph (Curran, 36), Kusunga (Caulker, 68), Moussa (Henvey, 13), Ngwatala, Mendy, McGowan, Madianga, Meekings, Wighton. Subs not used – Parish, Jeffries, Spence, Lambert.

Dunfermline: Robinson, Williamson, J Longridge, Devine, Durnan, Ashcroft, Higginbotham, Thomson (Connolly, 86), Hippolyte (Ryan, 82), L Longridge, Craigen. Subs not used – Gill, Todd, Martin, McCann, Luke.

Referee – Bobby Madden.

Matty Henvey holds his head in his hands after a missed chance.