Ross County 1-2 Dundee

Aug 3 2008 Alasdair Fraser At Victoria Park

INJURY-RAVAGED Dundee set out their title credentials by bagging an opening-day win in Dingwall despite fielding a shadow side featuring two untested trialists. In a 90 minutes that crackled with energy Ross County had Alex Rae's makeshift team under pressure for long periods but the Highlanders couldn't find a killer touch when it mattered.

The Densmen could - with Mickael Antoine-Curier netting from the spot and Eric Paton thundering home a header.

County, who were denied a clear-cut penalty, saw their luck desert them as they hit the woodwork twice.

Dundee headed north with new signings Colin Cameron, Jim Lauchlan and Darren Young all missing. Also crocked for the Dark Blues were Craig McKeown, Gary MacKenzie and Bob Davidson.

Rae was forced to throw in two trialists - 31-year-old ex-Sunderland defender Darren Williams and 27-year-old Canadian international Chris Pozniak.

County were boosted by the sight of the Second Division Championship flag being unfurled and with a large Dundee contingent in Victoria Park there was a great buzz around the stadium as the game kicked-off.

The opening passages of play failed to live up to the build up and the first clear-cut chance took 15 minutes to materialise.

Freddie Daquin whipped the legs from under David Winters outside the Dundee box but Richie Hart's low free-kick was easily held by former Celtic keeper Rab Douglas who was making his Dark Blues debut.

County were screaming for a penalty three minutes later when Hart's driven free-kick broke for Winters who was tugged down by Eddie Malone.

The claim was waved away by referee Mike Tumilty who further enraged the home fans by awarding Dundee a crucial penalty in 34 minutes.

French striker Antoine-Curier nipped past Stuart Golabek to the right of the County box but was caught late by Andy Dowie.

The former Hibs hitman took the kick himself and coolly sent Tony Bullock the wrong way.

County nearly equalised just before the interval when Adam Strachan cut inside from the left and hit the corner of the bar and post with a swirling 25-yard shot.

County boss Derek Adams made a double switch at the break with strikers Dyron Daal and Steven Craig on for Winters and midfielder Paul Lawson.

But it was the Dens men who threatened first with Golabek making a magnificent recovering tackle to stop Antione-Curier in his tracks.

County fell two behind in 50 minutes straight from a Paul McHale corner with Paton rising at the far post to thump a header high past Bullock.

Rather than crumbling County came back at Dundee with their best spell of pressure.

Scott Boyd saw a snapshot from the right side of the box superbly turned away for a corner by Douglas.

Ex-Livingston hitman Craig also brushed the top of the bar as County toiled hard for a way back into the game.

A Golabek cross from the left was stabbed home superbly by Daal on full-time but it was just too late for the home side.

MoM: Antoine-Curier (Dundee)