Dundee ran out winners over St Mirren in their first game in the build up to the new season.
Two goals from Darren O’Dea and one from Marcus Haber gave boss Neil McCann the result he was looking for in what was at times an ill-tempered affair.
As well as giving fans their first sight of new signings Scott Allan and Randy Wolters, McCann included two trialists in his starting line-up.
One was Dutchman Crescendo van Berkel, the other Finnish Glen Kamara. A third trialist, young German Nils Rutten, was on the bench.
The home team started brightly and Scott Bain in the Dundee goal had to be alert to hold a low shot from Gavin Reilly in only the second minute.Three minutes later the goalie was called on again when he had to tip a blistering effort from Cammy Smith over his bar.
Dundee had hardly been out of their own half, but in 11 minutes they were ahead. An Allan corner from the left was fumbled by ‘keeper Craig Samson and Darren O’Dea was there to force the ball over the line from close range.
St Mirren came close to equalising when Reilly shot from an angle on the right of the penalty area, but again Bain saved well. Moments later he produced an even better stop to deny Lewis Morgan an equaliser.
There was action off the pitch as well as and just before the half hour there were angry words between the two technical areas.
Dundee’s new assistant boss Graham Gartland and the home management team of Jack Ross and James Fowler had a lengthy exchange of views.
Ironically, of course, had the events of a few weeks ago taken a different turn, Ross and Fowler might have been in charge of Dundee tonight.
Back on the pitch, the visitors edged two ahead when Allan sent over a superb cross and O’Dea rose majestically to power home his second of the night with a fine header.
It was all change, almost, for the second period as Dundee made nine changes with only Bain and van Berkel surviving from the first half team.
Less than three minutes in, trialist Rutten made his mark when he crossed from the left for Haber to power home number three for McCann’s men with a shot from seven yards.
After some slack play by the Dundee defence, St Mirren did pull one back through Reilly, who netted with a low 16-yard drive.
It had become an unfriendly friendly and as well as a few tough tackles on the pitch, one of which saw Dundee’s Lewis Spence booked, the war of words between Graham Gartland and Jack Ross was continuing.
Dee goalie Bain continued to show up well and when home sub Connor McManus let fly from 14 yards, he pulled out another terrific stop.
At the other end Dundee had appeals for a penalty waved away after Danny Williams went down as he was tackled by Gary MacKenzie
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