Job done

[Handsome_Devil]

Professional performance and progress was never in doubt at Dens Park. We'll know tomorrow whether there's an outside dream of glory but it needs a hell of a lucky draw.

Our flaws remain clear and present but we can be happy they're usually relatively minor for our level.

However, Seedorf must surely be playing himself down the pecking order and the notion Scott should be given more responsibility is mental.

Long is more interesting, he was excellent when involved but invisible when left to his own devices. An Arnott or a McDonald would surely have created scraps to ease the pressure when we were sitting back in the second half - if he can add that to his game he could develop into an excellent player but I'm not sure he has the mentality for it. He's also hit 9 for the season now but we should acknowledge Donnelly being penalty taker skews things a little - if Long had taken (and scored obviously) two or three of those early penalties, he'd be looking a certainty to be the 15-goal striker everyone has asked for...and then his inability to do lot of the traditional number nine work would be more easily excused.

[Wellup4it]

Job done indeed and we deserved to win through. However we missed a traditional No 9 very badly; someone to hold the ball up and relieve our defence. Talking of our defence it was awful tonight and we were just lucky that Dundee were toothless up front.

[dasdeid]

I would agree Wellup4it post.
Game similar pattern to Access game and lost our dominance after the break.
What does our manager say at half-time ? What tactical change(s) does he make that results a shut down ?
Had Dundee scored 2nd half, we all know mass panic would ensue as seen many times before.

Long continues to play in/out the game and times looks dis-interested. He frustrates as could be better and time is running out. Hopefully hat-trick will boost his confidence .. time will tell.
Seedorf awol when replaced Hylton and rarely gets past defence .. only assert appears falling down when challenged .. taxi for Seedorf. Hylton can wait in same taxi queue as not far behind him ... IMO both are passengers.
Next round beckons but player/tactic improvements required.

[LawSteelman]

Yes in the end job done and we can be pleased with a good evenings work.

We looked sloppy defensively though and a better side would easily punish us for that. Also have to agree with those saying we lack a proper centre forward. We are far, far too lightweight in that area and it shows, Long is the best of the lot but still not the type of goalscoring forward that we need. Hylton and Seedorf aren't good enough, I've said that since the beginning of the season and nothing has changed.

Hopefully we get a kind draw tonight but we never do, so take your pick from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Dundee United/Hibs, Aberdeen or Kilmarnock.

[Handsome_Devil]

In fairness to Robinson, teams get in trouble at 2-0 up because they don't know whether to defend or attack and end up doing neither. If you make a conscious decision to defend against a team as poor as Dundee, it looks rotten but it's incredibly safe - they had one threat from a set piece (which Gillespie had covered) and a couple of long shots. There wasn't a single chance they created and tbh could still be playing now without having scored.

The first half saw us through and we strolled the second...I'm happy with that rather than running around like lunatics for no reason given the next two games are almost free hits at confirming the top four by February.

[texaco cup]

Hartley had a nightmare game, and tries things he doesn’t need to. Seedorf and Hylton are luxuries you can’t have in a team when your trying to grind out a result, different when you are a few goals up. As for a centre forward Adam Marriott of Kings Lynn scored his 28th goal of the season against York City. Surely he is at least worth a look �� but doesn’t appear so. He is top league goalscorer in England’s top 7 leagues