Dee ease to victory

PLAYERRATINGS Dark Blues dominant in friendly win over Brechin

DUNDEE eased to their third win in three pre-season matches last night as they swept aside Brechin City at Glebe Park.

And it was the Dark Blues’ wide men who did the damage in the first half as new boy Roarie Deacon and Craig Wighton shone.

First, twinkle-toed Deacon made himself space on the right-wing with a step-over before dinking a lovely cross in for Wighton to sweep home.

Then Wighton became creator, setting up Paul McGowan for goal No 2 before the break.

Throughout the contest, Dundee were almost in total control, keeping possession for long spells and creating chances.

They kept their hosts at arms length for most of the game with any Brechin chances coming as the result of individual errors. Even with those, you can’t be overly critical.

It is pre-season, players are just getting their sharpness back after the summer break and mistakes will happen.

What really stood out, though, was there was a real sense of a gameplan and an identity about the Dundee side.

And much of that was about keeping the ball and working their way through the home defence.

You could count on one hand the amount of long balls that were sent up to lone striker Marcus Haber, something that’s surely tempting when you have a big targetman like that.

The Canadian’s size and ability in the air then comes into it when the Dark Blues get the ball down the wings.

That’s where Brechin were beaten as Deacon and Wighton, especially, impressed in the opening period.

Wighton, on his return to a club he scored two goals for in a loan spell a few years back, could have had a hat-trick.

Just after the half-hour, a great first touch set up a shooting chance but he could only smash the ball wide.

Then early in the second period he had a clear sight of the Brechin goal after Deacon’s set-up.

However, he tried to be too cute and his dinked finish was cleared despite beating the keeper.

Another wide player who impressed was Danny Williams.

The former Inverness man hasn’t exactly set the heather alight since turning up at Dens Park but may well have found his position as a back-up to first-choice left-back Kevin Holt.

Williams showed up well as an attacking full-back and fans can expect him to pop up there again once the season gets up and running.

And, despite only playing the final 15 minutes or so, Scott Allan really showed his ability.

Some of the passes he played were joyous and it’s clear it’s going to be good to watch him strut his stuff in dark blue this season.

Overall, Dundee can have absolutely no complaints about how last night’s exercise went.

A dominant, front-foot display bringing victory, valuable minutes for the players and, more importantly, no injuries.

Friday night against newly-promoted English Championship side Bolton Wanderers, however, promises to be a different challenge altogether.

That said, you can expect an almost completely different starting XI from the Dark Blues for that one as they finish up their pre-season ahead of next Tuesday’s Betfred Cup opener at Raith Rovers.