Dundee 1-0 Clyde

Aug 10 2008 Rob Fairburn At Dens Park

MAGICAL Mickael Antoine-Curier fired Dundee to the top of the First Division and believes they can stay there for the rest of the campaign.

The Frenchman unleashed a stunning 20 yarder into a top corner on the stroke of half time to clinch the points and maintain the Dens men's 100 per cent record.

Former Hibs star Antoine-Curier said: "It was one of my better goals. I got a flick on from Colin McMenamin and managed to get the ball down on to my right side before hitting it as hard as I could and it went in to the top corner.

"I'm enjoying my start to the season with three goals in three games but it is the centre-forward's job to score. My family know my goal target but it will stay a secret - it is personal.

"We didn't play well in the second half but the main thing is we got the three points. It is a nice feeling to be top of the league and hopefully we can stay there."

Dundee boss Alex Rae was just happy with the result.

He said: "It was all a bit scrappy and there wasn't too much fluency in our play.

"We created a lot of chances in the first half without really playing well but I am delighted with the points."

The Dark Blues, who had three ex-Clyde players in their starting line-up, should have had the points wrapped up by the interval but ended up hanging on.

McMenamin squandered an incredible four chances in the opening 22 minutes as he terrorised the Bully Wee defence.

But a combination of bad luck and poor finishing resulted in all the opportunities being passed up.

Gary Mackenzie, who had come on for the concussed David Cowan after 15 minutes, took over as the dangerman at set-pieces.

The towering defender headed a free-kick just over moments after coming on.

And he should have broken the deadlock in the 35th minute when he was picked out by a Paul McHale corner but managed to head wide of the post from inside the six-yard box.

It was left to Antoine-Curier to show how it was down with a wonderful opener seconds before the interval. He latched on to a long punt by keeper Rab Douglas and showed great control to work the ball on to his right foot before cracking an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net.

Clyde, who had also suffered an injury blow when Willie McLaren limped off after 15 minutes, had been happy to defend until the goal took them by surprise.

Antoine-Curier went close twice at the start of the second half and must have been rueing the misses as Clyde gained confidence and started to take control.

Striker Pat Clarke had two great chances within 60 seconds going into the final 15 minutes.

He sent a low drive inches wide and after a mazy run fired in a low shot from virtually an identical position that Douglas did well to smother.

Douglas again came to the rescue in the 80th minute when he blocked a point-blank header from Billy Gibson.

Clyde continued to press late on even though they were effectively down to 10 men with sub Gary McSwegan limping heavily with a hamstring injury. Bully Wee boss John Brown said: "It was a good goal from Dundee's point of view.

"We deserved something out of the game with Douglas pulling off some great saves and unfortunately we have picked up three injuries.

"Dundee could have finished us off in the first half but we came back strongly.

"Any other day it could have gone our way but if we stay out of the bottom two places that will be progress."

MoM: Antoine-Curier (Dundee)