Accies' lead at the top of the table was cut to just 3 points when they lost to Dundee at Dens Park. David Elebert returned to the defence after missing several games and there was a debut for Austrian internationalist Roman Wallner. Dundee scored what was to be the only goal early in the first half but the key moment of the game was Richard Offiong's second half penalty miss.
Dundee 1 Hamilton Accies 0
Dens Park, Dundee
Saturday, 24th November 2007
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies suffered a painful defeat at Dens Park in a game that never really got going. Too often, the play was interrupted by the referee's whistle and neither side was really able to put more than a few passes together. This result cuts the lead at the top of the table to just 3 points and unfortunately breathes fresh life into the competition. Had Accies won, they would have been 9 points ahead of their rivals and an astonishing 15 points ahead of St Johnstone. Accies' boss Billy Reid made two changes to the team that defeated Partick Thistle last time out, with David Elebert returning after injury and on loan Falkirk man Roman Wallner making his debut. David Winters was on the bench alongside Stuart Taylor, Brian Wake, James Gibson and Tomas Cerny.
Accies started the game reasonably well, with Wallner giving early indications that he's going to be a useful man to have until the end of the year. However, it was the home side who came closest to scoring when Bryn Halliwell had to save a close range header from Milan Palenik. The home side did take the lad after just 12 minutes, with Scott Robertson scoring from close range following a free kick. Accies then began to take charge of the game and came very close to equalising twice, with Roman Wallner involved on both occasions. First of all, he fired the ball just wide of the post from the edge o the area and then he sent over an inch perfect corner kick that Brian Easton headed just past the post.
Brian Easton was having an excellent first half and he made a couple of surging runs down the left wing to win corner kicks for Accies. However, the game was descending into a midfield battle, with both defences looking very solid.
Accies had so much of the ball in the second half that it was no real surprise that they forced Dundee into conceding a penalty 8 minutes after half time. It came when Gary McKenzie handled the ball in the area. Top scorer Richard Offiong stepped forward but uncharacteristically blasted the ball high and wide of the target. After this, the game really became a contest between the Accies midfield and the Dundee defence. The home side were content to attack on the break with their first priority being not to concede a goal. Dundee manager Alex Rae was sent to the stand for making an uncharitable remark towards referee Brian Winter.
Despite their territorial superiority, Accies were unable to make that vital pass that would split open the home defence and test goalkeeper Samson. The home side threatened only occasionally, with Gavin Swankie being given a chance to score from a free kick just outside the area. However, the Accies wall stood firm and the shot was blocked.
Billy Reid made a double change after 70 minutes, with David Winters and Brian Wake replacing Richard Offiong and Mark Gilhaney. Ten minutes later, he brought on Stuart Taylor in place of David Elebert. However, none of these changes made a material difference to the game, with Accies having the bulk of the play but the Dundee defence holding firm. Referee Winter showed his yellow card to no fewer than 5 Accies men but declined the opportunity to caution any of the Dundee players in what was a frustrating but not dirty game.
After the game, manager Billy Reid said, "I thought we were the better football side to be honest, there was only one team passing the ball and that was Hamilton Accies, but we didn't hurt them in the final third. Our delivery wasn't good enough and I thought Dundee defended stoutly. We didn't seem to get the break of the ball when it was bobbling about their box. I don't have any complaints. I think my players are fantastic, some of the football we play is great but we don't have a cutting edge. Dundee have got a style of play where they ping it from back to front and compete via their five and six (MacKenzie and Palenik) and that's what happened with the goal. That was it, we controlled the game but didn't hurt them. Offfiong had scored four out of four from the penalty spot but it was just one of these days, You have to take it and we're disappointed – I believe if he'd scored we'd have won the game, we were in the ascendancy at that point. We were coming strong at the end, but you've got to give Dundee credit, their centre backs and full backs defended brilliantly.”
Dundee: Samson, Worrell, MacKenzie, Palenik, Malone, McDonald (Daquin 80), McHale, Robertson, Swankie (Dixon 86), Lyle, Davidson (Zemlik 70).
Subs Not Used: Roy, Sturm.
Goal: Robertson 12.
Hamilton: Halliwell, Swailes, Easton, McCarthy, Elebert (Taylor 80), McLaughlin, Wallner, McArthur, Offiong (Wake 73), Neil, Gilhaney (Winters 73).
Subs Not Used: Gibson, Cerny.
Booked: Elebert, Cerny, Neil, Wallner, McLaughlin.
Att: 4,375
Ref: B Winter
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