Dundee 1 Ross County 2: Dark Blues suffer disappointing opening-day defeat

Dundee slumped to a disappointing defeat at Dens in their opening Premiership match of the season with Ross County running out deserved winners.

The Dark Blues fell behind in the first half to a Jamie Lindsay strike with Christopher Routis doubling their advantage after the break before Dundee scored what proved to be a late consolation goal by Jack Hendry.

Home boss Neil McCann made one change from the team that started against Dundee United in the Betfred Cup last Sunday with Randy Wolters coming in for Paul McGowan who dropped to the bench.

Dundee had an early chance in the third minute when Sofien Moussa cut the ball back to Mark O’Hara but County keeper Scott Fox pulled off a fine save from the midfielder’s shot.

After that bright opening, though, it was the visitors who started to dominate possession albeit without troubling Scott Bain in the Dundee goal.

In the 18^th minute, the Staggies Michael Gardyne did manufacture an opening for himself 20 yards out but his low shot flew just wide of Bain’s right-hand post.

County then had an even better chance but Alex Schalk shot straight at the Dundee keeper with the goal at his mercy.

Shortly after though in the 36^th minute, the Staggies took the lead when Andrew Davies headed the ball down to Lindsay at the edge of the Dundee box and he drilled a low half volley past Bain and into the bottom corner of the net.

The Dark Blues looked to hit back before the break but Fox pulled off a good diving save from a Roarie Deacon shot and then clawed away a Kevin Holt header from the resultant corner.

However, the visitors deservedly went down the tunnel at half-time in the lead.

Dundee continued to struggle to break down County in the second half and Fox wasn’t tested again until the hour mark when he parried a Deacon shot on the turn.

However, the Staggies extended their lead in the 61^st minute when Sean Kelly sent a corner in from the right with Routis rising unchallenged to head past the helpless Bain.

The home side huffed and puffed to no great effect but they did finally manage to pull a goal back in the 86^th minute when Scott Allan sent a corner in from the right with sub Hendry bulleting a header past Fox.

Dundee then mounted a last-gasp siege on the County goal but Jim McIntyre’s men held on to take all three points.

For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.