Dee’s Have To Do It All Over Again

Airdrie United 1 Dundee 1

McLaren 59 Deasley 22

Dundee will have to do it all over again after this pulsating Scottish Cup 4^th Round tie ended all square. A large travelling support saw the Dee’s put in a superb first half showing which really should’ve seen them kill the game off. However, Airdrie fought back in the second period to earn a Valentine’s Day replay at Dens.

Manager Alan Kernaghan kept the same starting eleven that had won against Stranraer the week before. The only change in the full 16 was on the bench, where Tam McManus replaced the cup-tied Colin Marshall.

Dundee started the game in determined fashion, and came very close to opening the scoring after 2 minutes. Simon Lynch dribbled down the left wing and cut the ball back to the edge of the area. Kevin McDonald met the ball first time from 20 yards only to see his rising shot crash against the crossbar.

Bobby Mann could’ve scored minutes later. A corner kick from the left fell to him 10 yards out, but he side footed over the bar. Bryan Deasley’s pace was causing the Airdrie defence all sorts of problems, and he was put clean through on the goalkeeper after 15 minutes. Only a last ditch tackle from Airdrie’s Docherty prevented the youngster from getting his shot away.

It seemed like it would only be a matter of time before Dundee opened the scoring, and so it was proved after 22 minutes. Deasley fashioned the chance for himself in the middle of the park and got the break of the ball off 2 Airdrie defenders before sprinting clear on goal.

His first attempt was saved by goalkeeper Robertson, but the 17-year-old calmly chipped the rebound over the stranded ‘keeper, and just over the line. There was an agonising moment before the linesman signalled the ball had crossed the line and Deasley wheeled away to celebrate with the ecstatic away support.

Bobby Mann was the next to try his luck, but his effort was deflected over. Airdrie hit back and came close to equalising when a Stephen Docherty header crashed off the top of Murray’s bar.

Dundee started the second half with McManus on for Lynch, who had taken a head knock moments before the half-time whistle, but it was Airdrie who came out with new determination.

They deservedly equalised on 59 minutes, although there was a touch of controversy about the goal. McPhee seemed to handle the ball on the edge of the box before he set up McLaren to fire a low shot past Murray.

The Diamonds very nearly took the lead a minute later as Murray came to head clear a long ball. The ball broke to goalscorer McLaren who fired the ball towards the empty net only to see Bobby Mann sprint back to clear from the goal line.

Murray was the hero a few minutes later when he made a fine stop from Brian McPhee. Dixon also had to clear from the line as Dundee came under more pressure.

It was Dixon though who had Dundee’s best effort of the second period. His long-range effort being turned round the near post by Airdrie ‘keeper Robertson.

Dundee held on to take the game back to Dens on Tuesday 14^th February. The winners will travel to play either Hamilton/Alloa in the quarter-final.

Scottish Cup quarter-final draw:

Clyde/Gretna v Spartans/St Mirren
Hamilton/Alloa v Airdrie Utd/Dundee
Falkirk/Ross County v Hibernian
Hearts v Inverness CT/Partick Thistle

Dundee’s next game is against Queen of the South on Saturday 11^th February, at Dens Park.

Man of the Match – Email Syd with your votes for Man of the Match sydeefc62@btinternet.com

Airdrie United: Robertson, Docherty (McKenna 79), Lovering, McGowan, McManus, Holmes, McDougall, McKeown, Prunty, McPhee (Twigg 82), McLaren

Subs not used: Barkey, Dunn, Hollis (gk)

Dundee: Murray, Robertson, Dixon, Mann, C. MacDonald, Smith, K. McDonald (McCluskey 60), Brady, Lynch (McManus 46), Deasley (O’Reilly 81), Robb

Subs not used: Craig, Britton (gk)

Referee: J. Underhill

Attendance: 3557 Match Reporter; Neil Sinclair (Glasgow Dees)