I'll Take A Paton Back For Header!

Aug 24 2008 Kenny Macdonald At Dens Park

First Division

DUNDEE 1

MORTON 0

STUNNED Eric Paton admits he went his entire career without scoring a header - before grabbing two in a month.

The Dundee stopper nodded a spectacular first half winner to keep his side top of the table.

And Paton scooped the man of the match of the award to the delight of boss Alex Rae (below) after ensuring a clean sheet with another towering display.

He said: "That's me, top scorer now with two. It is my second headed goal for the club as I scored on the first day of the season at Ross County.

"But it is only the second headed goal in my entire career.

"It's always nice to score and it is a move we worked on in training - so it's great when they come off."

Paton bulleted home a near-post header from Freddie Daquin's corner in seven minutes but the Dens men had keeper Rab Douglas to thank for a superb block from sub Jon Newby in 75 minutes.

Paton said: "Rab has proved a couple of times already this season how valuable he is.

Winning the league is our aim so we have set our stall out from the first game of the season and clean sheets are always priceless."

Paton showed his threat early when he flicked on Daquin's corner for Mickael Antoine-Curier whose near-post shot was scrambled past by Morton keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

Ton winger Kevin Finlayson was crocked in a frantic opening spell and had to be replaced by Allan Jenkins.

Peter Weatherson wasted a great chance for Davie Irons' boys when he blasted high over in 25 minutes - and they were punished a couple of minutes later as Dundee grabbed the opener.

David O'Brien charged free on the left and was set to pull the trigger when defender Dom Shimmin superbly slid in to block for a corner.

Daquin hoisted in the flag kick and Paton bulleted a header into the top left corner from six yards.

Dundee came close to a second with another well-worked corner just after the break.

Paul McHale sent the ball in from the right to pick out Gary MacKenzie who smashed down a header only to see keeper Cuthbert smuggle the ball off the line to safety.

Ton struggled to make any impact but did carve out a rare chance in 57 minutes when Brian Wake's cross was justmissed by Iain Russell six yards out.

And Newby let Dundee off the hook when he was denied by Douglas after breaking free with 15 minutes left.

The Dark Blues pressed for a late goal to seal the points and came closest when O'Brien cut the ball back inside the box for McHale. But the Dens Park skipper pulled his 15-yard strike wide with the goal at his mercy.

Ton manager Irons claimed his side only had themselves to blame after two costly mistakes.

He said: "Our defence failed to compete for the Daquin corner at their opening goal then when Newby was through he should have done better.

"I told the boys at half-time we'd get a chance. But we didn't capitalise on it."

MoM: Paton (Dundee)