Issuu

DUNDEE

— Upcoming Fixtures

H Sat 1st Apr, ‘23

50/50 winner!

The winning ticket at the Arbroath game was number 128713, which was bought by Terry Cobban. Terry kindly asked for the £550 prize to be shared equally by the club and our partner charity, Friends of Anchor.

MATCH REPORT

Cove Rangers 1 Arbroath 1

cinch Championship

Sat 18th February

Balmoral Stadium

A heart-breaking conclusion cost the team what might be two valuable points as Arbroath substitute Toyosi Olusanya headed an 89th minute equaliser to cancel out a superb Leighton McIntosh opener.

Paul Hartley had made three changes to the side beaten at Dens Park last Sunday with Ross, Dunne and Longstaff reverting to the bench. Mark Reynolds returned in central defence alongside Jason Naismith and Morgyn Neill, with Shay Logan moving to right wingback and Connor Scully taking on that role on the left. Iain Vigurs was back in to anchor the midfield, while Gime Toure was handed a first start in support of Mitch Megginson.

Overall, the balance of the side was good with the midfield working well; Vigurs pulling all the strings and Bangala and Virtanen seeing plenty of the ball and getting up to support the attack.

“…a disciplined defensive performance, but with time running out, Arbroath found a way through.”

On the half hour mark, we put together a promising move down the left. Mark Reynolds chipped the ball forward, Megginson controlled and fed in Virtanen, but as Miko ran on to it, O’Brien made a strong challenge on the edge of the box to avert the danger.

“…we snatched the lead with a goal of the highest quality.”

Soon after, Vigurs played a superb ball over the top for Mitch to run on to, but Gaston was off his line quickly and just got there first. In the thirty-fifth minute, after a quick counter-attack, Bangala and Megginson combined to feed Toure who jinked past a couple of challenges but curled his shot just wide of the keeper’s right post.

Cove came close to breaking the deadlock in the fifty-sixth minute. Mitch laid the ball off for Connor Scully to run on to and the wingback forced a corner. Vigurs drove it to the edge of the box, but Virtanen’s lofted effort was easily gathered under the bar by Gaston.

We had a golden opportunity shortly after when Toure broke from halfway. He wriggled away from a challenge and tried to play Megginson in, but the keeper was alert to the danger and cleared at the edge of his box.

Just past the hour mark, Logan’s pass went astray in midfield, Linn picked up, raced forwards, and sent in a curling shot which clipped the top of Fox’s crossbar.

We then put together an excellent move. Scully and Megginson carved through the away defence, Virtanen helped the ball on, but as David Bangala set himself to shoot, he inadvertently nudged the ball with his left foot, and it ran harmlessly away.

Paul Hartley reshuffled his pack with a quarter of the game left. McIntosh, Dunne and Longstaff came on for Virtanen, Bangala and Toure, and the manager switched to a 4-3-3 with Reynolds at left-back and Scully moving forward into the heart of the midfield.

Soon after, we snatched the lead with a goal of the highest quality.

Iain Vigurs picked the ball up inside his own half and switched play with a delightful inch-perfect cross-field pass. Luis Longstaff controlled it, ran at the visiting defence, then found Leighton McINTOSH who took a touch before driving low past Gaston from just inside the box.

Olusanya tried to level things, firing in a powerful shot from twenty-yards after a menacing run, but Scott Fox dived to his right to push the ball to safety.

With six minutes remaining, Mitch Megginson made way for Scott Ross, who slipped into a back three as we attempted to see the game out.

The players looked like doing so and maintained what had been a disciplined defensive performance, but with time running out, Arbroath found a way through. A cross from the right was met by the unmarked O’Brien, and his return header found Toyosi OLUSANYA in space to force the ball home just inside the post.

Cove

Rangers (3-5-2)

Fox; Naismith, Neill, Reynolds; Logan, Bangala (Dunne 69), Vigurs, Virtanen (Longstaff 69), Scully; Megginson (c) (Ross 84), Toure (McIntosh 69)

Substitutes

Gourlay, McClelland, Weston, Glass

Goalscorers

McIntosh (75)

Arbroath (4-3-3)

Gaston; Banks, Little, O’Brien(c), Hamilton; Stewart (Balde 46), Gold (Dow 71), McKenna, Hetherington (Ben El-Mhanni 46); Hilson (Olusanya 59) Adarkwa (Linn 46)

Substitutes

Gill, Komolafe, Tait, Bitsindou

Goalscorers

Olusanya (89)

Booked

Hamilton (9), Hetherington (13), Little (73), Dow (90)

Referee

Alan Muir

Attendance

1,529

MATCH REPORT

Morton 2 Cove Rangers 1

cinch Championship

Sat 25th February

Cappielow Park

Once again, defensive errors cost us vital points as the team threw away a narrow lead in the closing stages to fall to defeat in Greenock. Leighton McIntosh had carved out a narrow advantage, finishing off a fine move just before half-time, and the team were looking good to hang on to it until a late collapse proved all too costly.

Paul Hartley had opted for an attacking line-up with Michael O’Halloran handed an immediate debut in support of the front two of Mitch Megginson and Leighton McIntosh, who had been restored to the starting eleven. The other change from last week’s draw with Arbroath saw Kyle McClelland drafted in to anchor the midfield. Virtanen, Bangala and Toure dropped to what was a fully stocked bench.

O’Halloran was quickly involved, gathering the ball and driving at the home defence before rolling a pass wide to Scully. The wing-back took a touch and curled in an inviting cross, but Schwake rose highest to catch it.

“Scott Fox pulled off a sensational double save to deny the home team.”

In the twelfth minute, the manager shook up his side. Logan came over to left-back, Naismith went out to the right and Scully moved forward into midfield in a revised 4-3-3 formation.

Scott Fox pulled off a sensational double save to deny the home team. A low cross from the right found Robbie Crawford at the near post and he flicked the ball goalwards. Scott dived low to keep the initial effort out one-handed, then grabbed it as Crawford fastened on to the rebound.

Connor Scully won a free-kick twentythree yards out, but Vigurs’ curled effort at goal was high over the angle of bar and post.

We won a corner on the right, but when it was cleared, the home side broke in numbers. McGrattan got entangled with Scully just inside the box and the Morton man ran free, but with the goal at his mercy, the midfielder blazed high over the bar.

Having been given a reprieve, Cove then took the lead three minutes before the interval with a well-worked move. Vigurs played Megginson free in the box, Mitch controlled and rolled it back, and Iain took a touch before chipping in a rightfooted cross. Leighton McIntosh climbed above his markers and sent a delightful header looping over Schwake for his ninth goal of the season.

It might have been two soon after. Logan fired in a cross from the left and Vigurs got a touch, but before he could properly control the ball, the keeper dived out to snatch it.

Michael O’Halloran’s debut lasted sixty-nine minutes, a lack of game time clearly taking its toll, and he was replaced by Luis Longstaff.

David Bangala took over from the injured Connor Scully in midfield and Gime Toure came on for the tiring Iain Vigurs as Paul Hartley again switched formation, the team now shaping up 4-4-2.

Out of nothing, the home side were thrown a lifeline. Robbie Crawford raced into the box, Shay Logan was too late with his challenge, and referee

Kirkland awarded what was a clear penalty. Robbie Muirhead lashed the ball off the underside of the bar, and it rebounded down and into the net off Scott Fox’s back.

“Within minutes, it was 2-1 Morton thanks to another of the self-inflicted goals which have scarred our season.”

Within minutes, it was 2-1 Morton thanks to another of the self-inflicted goals which have scarred our season. A long free-kick was floated into the box and just as Mark Reynolds looked set to clear, he inexplicably let the ball pass him. It deflected across the six-yard box and Robbie Crawford was first to react, squeezing it home at the back post.

There was no time for the team to recover and the defeat left us embroiled in the three-way battle at the bottom, the only slight consolation being the heavy defeat suffered by Hamilton, and Arbroath failing to win against Partick Thistle.

Morton (4-2-3-1)

Schwake; Pignatiello (Miller 54), Baird(c), O’Connor (Ambrose 74), Waters; Grimshaw, Blues; Quitongo (Muirhead 54), R. Crawford (Roy 86), McGrattan (A. Crawford 54); Oakley Substitutes

Green, Garrity, King

Goalscorers

Muirhead (pen 80), R. Crawford (85)

Booked

Grimshaw (46), Baird (52), Waters (73)

Cove Rangers (3-4-1-2)

Fox; Naismith, Neill, Reynolds; Logan, McClelland (Virtanen 31), Vigurs (Toure 75), Scully (Bangala 75); O’Halloran (Longstaff 69); Megginson (c), McIntosh

Substitutes

Gourlay, Ross, Weston, Dunne, Glass

Goalscorers

McIntosh (42)

Booked

McClelland (29), Fox (83)

Referee

Steven Kirkland

Attendance

1,873

Play today and support the club

• Sign up for £1 a week

• Win cash prizes every Wednesday

To support us, scan the QR code or visit: ourclublotto.co.uk/play/coverangersfc

PAUL HARTLEY

We have ten games left to save our season.

I know that seems like a stark warning, but given our position in the Championship table, there is no other way to look at it.

With the pressure on down at the bottom, there is no value in trying to be cautious, picking up the odd point here and there. We have to win matches and that will be my approach from here on in.

I went into last week’s meeting with Morton with that mindset, starting with a front three of O’Halloran, Megginson and McIntosh, and we so nearly got the result we all wanted.

Having scored an excellent goal, we blunted Morton, stopped them doing what they like to do, and were well set to see the game out.

For eighty minutes the game plan worked, and then, not for the first time this season, individual errors cost us, and I can assure you it was a very subdued bus journey back up the road to Cove.

You cannot legislate for that, for players showing poor judgement at key moments, and it is something we are going to have to cut out.

We have spoken about that at training this week, and the guys know exactly what is expected of them.

“I can promise all our fans that we will be working hard over the next few months.”

I have to say that the attitude was brilliant last week, they gave me everything in terms of effort, and played some good football, so if we can maintain that level between now and the end of the season, we will give ourselves a really good chance to staying in this division.

Of course, there will be much focus on what’s happening with Hamilton and Arbroath, but we cannot afford to think about that or rely on other results. We have to concentrate only on what we can affect, and that is winning our own matches.

I can promise all our fans that we will be working hard over the next few months. In every game, you have to earn the right to play, you have to compete for everything, and that can take you a long way, but we also need quality all over the pitch, and despite the injuries we’ve suffered, I think I now have that.

It is a time in the season where you have to take risks, you have to be positive, because every win you achieve will have a massive bearing on the eventual outcome.

We have ten massive games ahead of us and we have to get it right in each one of them. There are still plenty points to be gained as we bid to retain our Championship status, and we will all be giving 100% to do just that.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

Management

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Mark Reynolds

Jackson Longridge

Ritchie 28. Brody Paterson

Morgyn Neill

12. Scott Fox

3. Jason Naismith

4. Connor Scully

8. Blair Yule

24. Fraser Fyvie

9. Mitchel Megginson

11. Leighton McIntosh

16. Iain Vigurs

17. Luis Longstaff

25. Declan Glass

14. Miko Virtanen

27. Gime Touré

19. David Bangala

18. Tony Weston

This afternoon sees just the fifth meeting of Cove Rangers and Dundee, with the Dens Park outfit currently holding a narrow advantage on the head-to-head.

The pair were grouped together in successive seasons in the League Cup with the first encounter, in July 2019, ending goalless at Balmoral Stadium. Three of the Cove side sent their penalties over the bar, leaving Paul McGowan to secure the bonus point for the visitors.

There is a possibility not a single player who started for us that night will be in the team this afternoon. With Yule and Scully out injured, Scott Ross remains the only man who could get the nod, which is a measure of the changes there have been in recent times.

The next meeting was in November 2020 when Dundee took the points. McGowan had given them an early lead, but Cove were still in it until the sendings-off of Yule and Masson either side of halftime. Even then, it was not until the final six minutes that Dundee clinched their 3-0 victory.

Our first win against the Dark Blues came last October, and it was to be a night to remember for Connor Scully. Max Anderson had snatched the early lead for Dundee, but Mitch Megginson’s predatory instincts came to the fore as he equalised not long after. Cove took a grip with two goals in four second half minutes. Scully fired us in front with a superb scissors kick, then bettered that with an outstanding overhead effort which flew past Adam Legzdins to secure a memorable 3-1 triumph.

The most recent encounter was not quite as memorable. After a strong first half at Dens, the home side took a grip thanks to some shoddy defending, and ran out deserving 3-0 winners.

CAPTAIN’S VIEW

The team was extremely disappointed and frustrated with the outcome of last Saturday’s match. Too many times this season we have gifted the opposition goals, and collectively, we need to cut those mistakes out of our game in order to start putting more points on the board.

It has in some ways been the story of our season so far. We started the game very well, and took the lead through a well worked goal. As expected, Morton came at us in the second half, and for the majority of the period, we dealt with their press well. But in the Championship, you must be on your game for the full 90 minutes, otherwise you will be punished, and unfortunately, we were.

It was always going to be a hard game. Morton have been solid so far this season at Cappielow, they have turned it in to a bit of a fortress. But to be leading in the game with 10 or so minutes to play and not come away with anything is very disappointing.

“ Every single game between now and the end of the season is huge for us.”

We know we are in for another tough game this afternoon. However, we go into it with plenty of belief that we can take points off the Dark Blues.

“ Your backing really helps to spur the team on, and it would be great to have an atmosphere like that again this afternoon.”

We have already proven we have what it takes to compete with the teams at the top end of the table this season. We of course had that memorable night against Dundee back in October, beating them 3-1, in which Connor Scully scored two worldclass goals! As well as that, we did well for the first 45 minutes at Dens a few weeks ago, which we must look to build on this afternoon.

Every single game between now and the end of the season is huge for us. We have been working hard in training this week in preparation for this game, and we are determined to go into the final quarter of the season with a win under our belts. It is also important in order to pick up momentum going into the final few weeks of the season.

You, the supporters, also have a big part to play this afternoon. It was good to see so many of you come along and show your support for the team in our last home match against Arbroath. Your backing really helps to spur the team on, and it would be great to have an atmosphere like that again this afternoon.

COYCR! Mitch Megginson

O’HALLORAN MICHAEL

Paul Hartley made his ninth signing of the transfer window last week with the capture of versatile forward Michael O’Halloran.

Michael began his career in the Celtic Youth Academy before making a move south of the border to join Bolton Wanderers.

St Johnstone brought Michael back to Scotland in 2014, and after helping the Perth side lift the Scottish Cup that season, he signed for Rangers on a four and a half-year deal.

O’HALLORAN

He went on to help the club gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership, before returning to St Johnstone on loan in the 2016/17 campaign.

Following a short spell playing for Melbourne City in the A-League, Michael again returned to St Johnstone in 2019, this time on a permanent deal, and played his part in helping the Saints win the League Cup and Scottish Cup double in 2021.

“ Michael is one we have been chasing…”

Paul Hartley is delighted to have landed the forward: “Michael is one we have been chasing, and I’m pleased to have got this deal over the line.

“I have made no secret of the fact that I felt we needed support at that end of the pitch, and he certainly offers that. I believe he can make a big contribution in the last few months of the season.”

Michael made his debut against Morton last weekend and looks certain to be involved this afternoon.