FC Augsburg 2 Dundee 0

DUNDEE’S FIRST match of pre-season proved a testing one as the 29 degree heat in Walschee and a far sharper FC Augsburg combined to provide them with a demanding workout, writes Graeme Dey in Austria.

The Dark Blues, going forward at least, showed a degree of promise in their first-half play.

But attacking wise they didn’t offer a great deal after that and defensively throughout they found the going hard against the German second division side for whom this was a fifth outing in the build up to the 2009-2010 campaign.

Nevertheless, boss Jocky Scott pronounced himself reasonably satisfied with the evening’s endeavours.

“It was a good exercise,” he stated. “At this stage I’m not interested in results, especially against teams like Augsburg who are much further forward in their preparations than ourselves.

“What I was looking for tonight was performance—and at times I thought we played very well.

“The workrate and fitness was also there.

“The manner in which we lost the goals was disappointing but this is only our first game and we’ll take things on board from it.”

Skipper for the night Paul McHale revealed the temperature had exacted a considerable toll on the players.

“We looked a bit short,” he admitted. “But then the heat in the first half was unbelievable and we were out on our feet after an hour.

“We’ll come on from this and the time to judge us will be a week from now by which time, like the Germans, we’ll have had a few games under our belts.”

With young Craig Forsyth shining in his new wide left role, the Dark Blues certainly carried plenty threat in the first 45.

However, they found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break and, but for Tony Bullock, could have been further behind.

Forsyth brought a terrific fingertip save out of Lukas Kruse early on before getting on the end of a Richie Hart cross but failing to direct his finish on target.

Dundee also had a Darren Young drive deflected wide for a corner, Hart had a seemingly netbound shot blocked by Andrew Sinkala and the same Augsburg player prevented Colin McMenamin from being put clean through by Forysth by handling the ball.

At the back, though, they struggled at times against a lively German side.

A lapse on 19 minutes left Kyle Benedictus having to deal with both Sander Torghelle and Michael Thurk from Dominik Reinhardt’s delivery into the heart of their rearguard. Benedictus managed to force Thurk wide but then hesitated and the Augsburg striker managed to lift the ball over the advancing Bullock and into the net.

To be fair to the Dens Parkers they didn’t allow Augsburg that many chances, but late in the half Bullock had to pull off a couple of saves from Thurk, the last of which was top notch.

Dundee returned for the second period no doubt grateful to see that Thurk had been involved in one of five changes made by the Germans.

But Augsburg continued to menace.

Both Benedictus and Gary MacKenzie were at full stretch as they frantically combined to deny Thurk’s replacement Stephan Hain at the expense of a corner then Bullock produced another fine stop from Edmond Kapplani.

However, the keeper was beaten again on 55 minutes despite a valiant effort to deny the substitute.

A missed tackle by Brian Kerr on the edge of the area left Dundee desperately trying to keep Augsburg out and although Bullock got a hand to Kapplani’s angled shot the ball still found its mark via the underside of the bar.

Only the legs of Bullock—blocking as they did another effort from Kapplani—prevented further damage being done as the Germans sought to take full advantage of the heat having taken its toll on Dundee.

However, Scott made a raft of changes which, aided by the temperature becoming less oppressive, rendered the Dark Blues more competitive.

With 10 minutes left Jordan Timmons had an opportunity to drag his side back into things.

Unfortunately for the youngster and Dundee though, coming in beyond the back post, he sidefooted Eddie Malone’s cross high over the crossbar.

Attendance—300.

Dundee—Bullock, Cowan (Paton 62), Malone, McHale (Cameron 62), MacKenzie, Benedictus (Lauchlan 65), Hart (Timmons 78), Kerr (Harkins 62), McMenamin (Higgins 62), Young (Clarke 61), Forsyth (Grant 78).

FC Augsburg—Kruse, Reinhardt (Straub 46), Sinkala, de Roeck (Hegeler 46), Schick, Schindler, Sukalo, Moizi (da Costa 46), Traore (Ndjen 62), Thurk (Hain 46, Ndjeng 78), Torghelle (Kapllani 46).

Referee—Mirco Ostojevic (Croatia).