The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
French duo net as Dark Blues’ patience pays off
McCann pleased with Group D victory as Blue Toon make it tough for visitors
Neil McCann was a happier man as his Dundee side bounced back from defeat against Dunfermline to put themselves back in contention to qualify from Group D in the Betfred Cup.
French duo of Karl Madianga and Jean Mendy scored the goals at either end of the second half, and McCann said: “That was Karl’s second game in a year and you can see there’s plenty to come from him. He gets around the pitch well and he’s only going to get better from there.
“Peterhead were clearly going to make it difficult. They dropped everybody back behind the ball and at times had 11 in the last 40 yards which denied us space with the wind against us.
“I thought we were patient enough and scored two very good goals, with Mendy’s in the last minute just making it a bit easier than it was. You’re just never sure and when they got a corner late on you’re just never safe.
“We created a lot, but I think the surface was sticky and stopped us breaking a couple of times. I’ve been involved with teams before coming to Peterhead, so I’m happy just to go down the road with a win.”
Peterhead’s game plan was clearly to frustrate their opponents, and that is exactly what they did in the first half, a compact defensive performance keeping the Premiership side at arms length.
Indeed it was the Blue Toon who had the best chance of the first half, after only 13 minutes. Jack Leitch’s corner from the right fell to Cameron Eadie but his close-range effort was scrambled behind.
The Dark Blues came alive and Madianga saw a low shot drift wide from the edge of the area, and Steven Caulker sent a header wide from a corner.
Sofien Moussa was next to threaten, cleverly reversing a header towards goal, but it lacked power.
Russell McLean cut inside Jesse Curran from the left after 26 minutes, but he didn’t catch his shot properly and Elliot Parish was able to gather easily.
McLean provided more of a test when he shot from 18 yards after a good move through the middle from the home side, but Parish held well and launched a counter-attack from which Eadie knocked away from Madianga.
Dundee started the second period in the mood to attack. Jason Brown had to look lively to cut out a Paul McGowan cross which needed only a touch, before Mendy struck narrowly wide.
And when they took the lead after 50 minutes, it was a deserved opener.
A patient move down the right ended with Madianga taking a McGowan pass in his stride and lashing beyond Greg Fleming from 15 yards.
They could have had a second 10 minutes from time as substitute Craig Wighton broke down the right and crossed for McGowan, Eadie’s clearance coming back off the midfielder but passing wide of the upright.
The killer second goal did come in injury time, Mendy taking Wighton’s flick under control before slotting home from similar range to his compatriot.
Peterhead boss Jim McInally said: “It was disappointing to lose the second goal as the two centre-halves had played well and it was a wee bit harsh on us, but I thought we did well.”
Peterhead: Fleming, Home, Eadie, J Brown, Stevenson, Norris, Ferry, Leitch, Kavanagh, McAllister (Lyle 56), McLean. Subs not used: McCracken, McDonald, S Brown, Buxton, Gibson.
Dundee: Parrish, Curran, Caulker, Meekings, Kerr, Spence, Ngwatala, McGowan, Madianga, Mendy, Moussa (Wighton, 70). Subs not used: O’Dea, Haber, Rice, Henvey, Lambert, Hamilton.
Referee: Euan Anderson.