Airdrie (0) v. Dundee (1) 23/9/06
By 201820
September 23 2006
Airdrie slumped to yet another defeat at home to Alex Rae's very beatable side today at New Broomfield. Missed chances by Brian McPhee, twice, and Gary Twigg will haunt Sandy Stewart for another week
Airdrie had new boy Xavier Barraud on the left wing with Brian McPhee back up front but without this regular partner Prunty who was benched. Lovering as still out though McKeown was back on the bench. AIRDRIE UTD
Dundee
Airdrie opened the match at a frantic pace and should have been a goal ahead in the opening minute. A long ball over the top was brought down by McPhee but the striker snatched at the simple enough looking chance and blasted wide with the goal at this mercy. McPhee had another first half chance when he got behind the Dundee defence as he raced clear but instead of taking a touch, he tried to lob the goalie with a first time header but another great chance fell short. A succession of corners also resulted in Teirney flicking onto the post from a training ground move.
However Airdrie's profligate finishing was punished midway through the first half when Swankie raced clear (from an offside position?)and was brought down, softly, by McGowan. McGowan was absolutely raging at the decision as he seemed to suggest that Swankie manufactured the collision. Lyle scored from the spot kick and the Diamonds were down to ten men.
At no point for the remainder of the match however would you realise that Airdrie were down to ten men. Up stepped Xavier Barraud for a leading role. On the fringes of the game early on the Frenchman stepped up a gear and looked very classy, strongly shrugging off challenges as he looked to dominate the midfield. With Taylor now playing sweeper Airdrie battled on gamely.
McKeown was brought on for Teirney at half time with Barraud unfortunately moved back to full back - my main gripe on our part. Dosser did well in midfield and made my day by constantly going after Alex Rae, who pompously tried refereeing the game, no doubt influencing the awful Willie 'calamity' Collum. Celtic fan Dosser probably only wanted to leave the ex. Ger black and blue but it typified the teams fighing spirit that will surely see them turn the corner sooner than later. Twigg missed a glorious chance from 12 yards out when put through by MacDougall, first firing straight at the goalie then flopping over the rebound. Dundee hit a post on one of their ventures forward but didn't really look like scoring again. Though it was our missed chances that cost us the game, special mention must go to the referee for absolutely spoiling the game. After an early earful from Alex Rae he seemed to give everything against us, am I the only one who thought so?
Where do we go now? If Lovering is still out next week we'll probably need to play McKenna at left back as we can't afford to move Barraud back again. The fight is there in the players which is needed. I was perplexed to see Prunty on the bench for this one, I'd have him play any position on the team just to have him on the park. Next up we have Gretna who thrashed Thistle this week just to prove that their star hasn't fallen just yet. Last time out hesitant defending cost us against them before they overran our sagging and undermanned midfield late in that cup game. We should be stronger now, but can we get amongst the goals. Maybe we'll need to go with a four, five one next week to match up in midfield, Gretna's undoubted strongest area.
| Robertson | On a good run of form but on a couple of occassions I thought his communication was lacking. |
| Smyth | He's settled down well in the past couple of weeks but I still think there's a lot more to come. |
| Christie | Had a few awful distribution moments but got on the end of most blocks |
| Teirney | Looks a good prospect in central defence but sacrificed at half time. |
| McGowan | Was playing really well till his sending off. Needs to control that temper a bit though... |
| MacDougall | His best of the season so far, looked up for this one for a change. Had a few contributions of note, sadly including the one that Twigg fluffed. Needs to get a nose for goal though |
| Taylor | Do we judge him on the merits of his efforts in midfield, defence or at centre forward? |
| Holmes | Had a good game pushing forward a lot but shit out of luck |
| Barraud | Looks a class act. Really came onto a game in midfield, he has a cultured left foot, he's strong, he's no slouch, but importantly he plays the game with his heart on his sleeve. A culthero waiting to happen. |
| McPhee | Battled away like only the 36 yr old fireman can. Two bad misses from him essentially cost us the game but remember it was his pace and bustle that got him into those positions in the first place. He'll miss them but he'll get them at other times. Scarily though he went off with what looked either like a bad cramp in his calf, or a niggling knee problem. |
| Twigg | I was surprised to see him come out for the second half, especially with Prunty on the bench. The bad miss summed up his day, must do better all round. |
| subs | McKeown ferociously fought Rae in midfield, Prunty provided leadership and aggression without threatening the goal and McKenna looked more likely to score for Dundee at times but added pace to the defence. |