Dundee survived a late red card scare to secure all three points in a 1-0 win over Falkirk at Dens Park.
The home side made two changes to the squad that lost 1-0 to Motherwell last weekend as Ryan Astley and Ethan Hamilton made their way into the starting eleven.
The visitors made three changes to the side that won at Rugby Park last week as Keelan Adams, Finn Yeats and Ethan Williams came into the eleven.
There was little in the way of action in the early proceedings of the game as Brad Spencer’s early red card for a challenge on Ashley Hay was downgraded to a yellow by referee Duncan Nicolson following a VAR review.
As the half was coming to an end, Falkirk midfielder Finn Yates was penalised for handball in his attempt to block the shot and Dundee were awarded the penalty.
Yan Dhanda converted his penalty, sending Bairns and former Dundee ‘keeper Scott Bain the wrong way, and gave the home side the lead in a tight affair just on the brink of halftime. This was Dhanda’s second goal for the club since joining on loan from Hearts in the summer.
Falkirk started the second half with more urgency and aggression, but seldom troubled Jon McCracken in the Dundee net.
Just after the hour mark, Dundee manager Steven Pressley looked to maintain his side’s one goal advantage as Simon Murray and Imari Samuels were brought onto the pitch, meanwhile Falkirk manager John McGlynn pushed for an equaliser as Alfie Agyeman, Ethan Ross and Dylan Tait came off the bench.
Almost 15 minutes later Bain was called into action when Drey Wright’s low left footed shot from outside the box was comfortably handled by the former Dundee keeper.
A tense Dens Park crowd suffered more stress as substitute Simon Murray was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Ethan Ross, this time with the decision being upheld.
With eight minutes of stoppage time, Falkirk continued their pressure as Filip Lissah’s powerful shot was saved by McCracken. The hosts would hang on the secure all three points with Falkirk ending their 2025 in defeat.
Following this result, Dundee are in tenth place sitting three points above Kilmarnock in the relegation playoff spot. The two sides face each other back at Dens Park in a Tuesday night kick-off in what is sure to be a relegation dogfight.
Falkirk are in eighth place, as they seek a top six finish after their promotion into the Premiership last season. They next face a home tie against Aberdeen with a chance to be right on the Dons heels should they see victory next weekend.
Dundee: McCracken (7), Wright (7), Graham (8), Koumetio (7), Astley (7), Congreve (6), Hamilton (7), Jones (6), Yogane (6), Dhanda (7), Hay (7)
Subs: Samuels (6), Digby (5), Murray (1), Acquah (5)
Falkirk: Bain (7), Adams (6), Allan (6), Henderson (6), Lissah (6), Spencer (5), Yeats (4), Wilson (5), Miller (6), Williams (6), Graham (5)
Subs: Ross (6), Tait (6), Agyeman (6), Samuel-Ogunsuyi (5), Nesbitt (5)
