By Robert Thomson at Dens Park (www.scotlandonsunday.com)
IT IS amazing what effect an injection of confidence can have on a team and Dundee were proof of that during yesterday\'s 2-0 victory over Queen of the South. The turnaround in fortunes since the arrival of Jocky Scott three weeks ago has been remarkable, with two victories and a draw recorded in his first three matches. Unlike Queens, who look bereft of self-belief, Dundee knew they could win from the outset and did so with goals from Eric Paton, against his former team, and Bryan Deasley. It may have been different if Steven Tosh had opened the scoring after eight minutes when Sean O\'Connor found him with a low cross but the evergreen midfielder knocked his shot beyond the post from a matter of yards. Kyle Benedictus, playing his third game at the age of 16, almost scored four minutes later when he connected with Freddy Daquin\'s corner but the ball rebounded back off the crossbar. Dundee had to replace Benedictus early in the second half after the youngster slumped to the turf with a serious-looking calf problem. Jim Lauchlan, who has been injured since the summer, came on to make his debut. The hosts went ahead on 64 minutes following appeals for a penalty after Pozniak was fouled on the edge of the area. Paton stepped up to curl the free-kick over the wall and into net.
Eleven minutes from time Mickael Antoine-Curier laid the ball in perfectly for Deasley, who slammed a shot home from close range to seal the points.
By John Docherty
at East End Park
Dunfermline 0
Dundee 1
Antoine-Curier 68
JOCKY SCOTT returned to his old East End Park stamping ground to serve up his first victory as manager of Dundee and give the Blues renewed belief they can still mount a title charge.Scott, manager of Dunfermline in the early 90s, took charge of the Taysiders for the first time – and the third time in his career – in last week\'s draw with Airdrie.Yesterday, he went one better, French star Mickael Antoine-Curier grabbing the only goal of the match, at the same securing his club\'s first victory in 10 outings, against a promotion-chasing Pars side who had scorned chances to wrap up Dundee started brightly enough, striker Bryan Deasley working his way into the Pars\' penalty box only to be thwarted by a last-gasp challenge from Woods. The ball then broke to David O\'Brien who got in his shot only to see it blocked by Greg Shields.Dunfermline, however, were robbed of the lead in the 13th minute.A Kevin Harper corner from the right was delivered into the path of Stephen Glass and the midfielder let fly with a left foot drive from 20 yards out which smacked off the post with former Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas beaten.Second later, Harper took another corner from the right, which was met perfectly by the boot of Glass and fairly whistled by the Douglas\' left-hand post.Dunfermline were enjoying the majority of the play and there was a further anxious moment for Dundee\'s defence when Irish striker Andy Kirk\'s free kick just outside the box came off the Dens rearguard wall and quick-as-a-flash, Woods pounced only to see his net bound shot pushed away by Douglas.In a clever down on the right. Harper found Nicky Phinn and the midfielder sent in an inviting ball for Kirk, but it fell awkwardly and he could only drill his effort wide of the target.It was proving a hard day at the office for Dundee with Mickael Antoine-Curier and the smaller figure of Deasley unable to get the service required to trouble Dunfermline goalkeeper Paul Gallacher although the team were defending resolutely.The second half started with a thumping clash of heads involving Eddie Malone and Harper although, thankfully, it turned out to be nothing serious.Dundee fans appealed for a penalty for handball after ex-Dunfermline player Freddie Daquin\'s corner came off Dunfermline skipper Scott Wilson, but referee Stevie O\'Reilly was having none of it.On the hour mark, Dunfermline front man Graham Bayne knocked the ball down for Kirk but, under close scrutiny from Kyle Benedictus, his scrambled drive went over the top.The Fifers made their first change, Scott Muirhead coming on for Austin McCann, and the move almost paid instant dividends as a left foot drive from Kirk looked destined for the corner of the net until Douglas somehow got his hand to the ball. The home supporters were now sensing the all-important breakthrough although Dundee continued to stand firm against a determined attack.Then, in the 68th minute, Dunfermline were left reeling when Dundee hit them with a sucker-punch goal. Deasley threaded the ball through to Antoine-Curier who found himself in the clear and he made the most of the opportunity, running through before cooly slotting the ball past Gallacher. (www.scotlandonsunday.com)
NEW DUNDEE manager Jocky Scott last night admitted he feared his time in football had come to an end, but now hopes to roll back the years to lead the Dark Blues up the First Division table.