Ground 41: Dens Park

Dens Park

Game: Dundee 2 v 3 Kilmarnock

Date: Saturday 11^th May

Competition: Scottish Premier League

Attendance: 4,190

Admission: £20

Programme: £2.50

As I’m reaching the dog end of the season I was aware of the possibility that I’d be watching some games that would be dead rubbers. If the game at Dens Park was anything to go by, then I’m all for meaningless games.

I journeyed up to Dundee on the train with a hangover that was more brutal than a Siberian winter. Therefore, my decision to walk to Dens Park was a tad foolhardy, especially as the route took me up Hilltown, a rather steep hill.

Dens Park on the right, Tannadice in the distance on the left

This was only my second visit to Dens, the home of Dundee since 1899. The ground has two modern stands behind each goal. The Main Stand at Dens is unusual in Scottish football in that it is oval shaped, which isn’t too noticeable from inside the ground, but can be seen outside due to the shape of Sandeman Street. The stand on the opposite side is the Derry stand which runs for two thirds alongside the pitch. For my previous visit to Dens when Dundee played Aberdeen in the League Cup I know the Derry stand is where most of the atmosphere at Dens is created.

Dundee had been relegated the week before, so had nothing to play for but pride whilst Kilmarnock only had positional money to play for as the teams trotted out of the Dens Park tunnel and down onto the pitch. The weather was all over place (four seasons in one day) and I was heartened to see the home fans giving their team a warm welcome despite relegation. Truth be told, Dundee never had a chance of SPL survival as their arrival to the division was only confirmed a matter of weeks before the start of the season. This made it very difficult to get a squad capable of competing in Scotland’s top division.

The game was only four minutes gone when Kilmarnock took the lead through Rory McKenzie. McKenzie picked the ball up from ten yards inside his own half and ran with the ball. Dundee players backed off and eventually two of them tackled each other as McKenzie took the ball into box and stroked it home with his left peg. It was hard to describe a solo goal like that as nothing short of ridiculous. Evidentially, luck has not been kind to Dundee at all this season.

A visit to Dens is always aesthetically pleasing, and the home side have the classiest shirts in the SPL this season. What is not so pleasing is the clear bumps in the playing surface, which must have an impact of playing passing football. Another unpleasing aspect of the encounter was the performance of the referee (this looks like it’s becoming a theme doesn’t it?) who at no point looked like he had authority over the players on the park.

Dundee equalised in the 19^th minute through Ryan Conroy’s close range effort after some good close passing from the boys in blue. Dundee had missed a good few chances preceding the equaliser as the Kilmarnock back four gave Dundee plenty of space, which has probably been the story of their season.

At half-time Dundee said goodbye to a club legend. Rab Douglas is departing the club after falling out with current manager John Brown and he received a touching standing ovation from the fans as he walked round all three sides of the ground occupied by Dundee fans. Even the biggest cynic could not have been touched by his kissing of the goalposts at the Bobby Cox Stand end.

Rab Douglas says goodbye

The second half continued in the vein of the first, with both sides attacking and trying to create chances. Kilmarnock took the lead for the second time in the 58^th minute when midget left Chris Johnston cut inside from the wing, fired a shot at the edge of the box that was blocked and returned to him and the youngster blasted his second attempt into the faraway corner.

Johnston looks like a great prospect and I’ll be following his development as he’s a player that could get fans on their feet. Likewise Dundee’s Gary Harkins, a player who infuriates and delights in equal measure – he’s a lovely passer and a very skilful player but his work ethic is less than exemplary.

Kilmarnock doubled their lead seventeen minutes from time when Rabiu Ibrahim showed wonderful poise and balance to escape his marker and lay the ball into the path of Clingan, who curled a beautiful effort beyond Simonsen from 20 yards.

Mark Stewart pulled a goal back for Dundee in the 82^nd minute with a neat lob of Cammy Bell but it wasn’t enough to get the Dee back in the game.

At full time the home fans were quite muted when their players were leaving the pitch, which was not surprising given relegation before the last home game of the season. There was glimmers of quality in this match, but not enough from Dundee to garner anything from the match. Which is probably the story of their season. If the club had got a proper pre-season in the knowledge they would be playing SPL football then no doubt they would have had a better tilt at staying in the division.