Last Friday, I visited Dens for the first time, to watch Dundee take on Livingston in the Scottish Championship. Dens is only 200 yards up the road from Tannadice, home of local rivals Dundee United. Geographically, this is the closest rivalry in Europe. As a geek for football stadiums, the chance to visit two with one glance was a joy.
Dens is an unusual ground, one whose charm lies in its asymmetrical nature. Modern stands sit behind either goal - one named after Bobby Cox, the other Bob Shankly – both built in the late 90s. The Main Stand is slightly unorthodox in structure; the oval shape means that those who sit at the half-way line in the Main Stand are the furthest away from the pitch, a by-product from the time in which Dens Park was a bowl rather than the conventional shape it has taken today. Finally, there is the South Stand – old-fashioned yet also the source of most of the atmosphere in the 4000 or so crowd.
It might have been because this was a Friday evening, rather than a Saturday afternoon, but for August, it was cold. It just didn’t feel like summer anymore, as the crisp wind through Dens blew regrets for the rather optimistic choice of clothing. The only hint that this was August, rather than mid-February, was the immaculate condition of the Dens Park pitch and the distinct absence of those skin-tight base layers worn by players.
Truth be told, not that much happened in the first thirty minutes of the match. The crowd was hesitant, with a murmur of noise being pierced by the shouts stemming from the home team’s dugout as John Brown screamed instructions to his players.
It wasn’t until Dundee took the lead that the game really kicked into gear. A lunge on Gary Irvine from Martin Scott left referee Brian Colvin with no choice but to award a penalty to Dundee, which Carlo Monti just about squeezed past Livingston goalkeeper. The goal triggered the rather generic celebration music – Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis,– but it also sparked the game, and the vociferous South Stand, into life.
The career of Carlo Monti, the penalty scorer, is a rather interesting one. The Glasgow-born striker was a product of the Celtic youth academy, but found himself playing in junior football for Pollock after leaving Morton. His 32 goals for the junior side earned him a deal at Dundee. It’ll be interesting to see how he will do this season.
The early stages of the second half determined the destination of the three points. Five minutes into the second half, Livingston had a goal disallowed, as Martin Strike was deemed to have strayed offside when he struck the ball past Kyle Letheren. On fifty-six minutes, Dundee doubled their advantage through Declan Gallagher, as the centre-half rose to meet Jim McAlister’s corner with an imposing header past Livi’s Kevin Walker.
The second goal effectively sealed the result, though the match was put beyond doubt with eight minutes to go through a Peter MacDonald goal. The finish was comfortable, the product of some brilliant work on the wing from Nicky Riley. Riley, a second half substitute, jinked past his opponent to the by-line and then cut back to find MacDonald. The final minutes faded in to the night, every Dundee pass complimented by an “ole”.
The trip to Dens Park was a worthwhile one, despite the shuddering cold which should never be associated with the summer months. The atmosphere, originally a bit frosty, certainly did liven up once Dundee took command of the match, and the crowd’s sense of humour was apparent as well.
The moment I’ll take with me from the game was a punter in the crowd shouting at Dundee’s Kevin McBride that all he needed after a getting a knock was “a wee cuddle”. He limped off the pitch to be substituted a minute later.
David Childs
Watch the match highlights here - http://youtu.be/lvfBPkAssXk
Have you ever been to Dens? Have a flick through our matchday photo album by CLICKING HERE
Thanks to Fraser McFadzean for the fantastic photography of the match. To view more of Fraser's pics click here - http://frasermcfadzean.tumblr.com/
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