retired_eneko5613

1st December 2013

Dear Diary,

A dodgy November, following trends of previous seasons, would have been more or less disaterous, given our precarious starting position. This year, though, we just about held our own, doing enough to at least keep in touch with the table toppers. After all, we had done nothing domestically for most of October, and our trip to the Highlands was no different. For 70 minutes we outplayed my old club, but it was a youngster I signed from Hibs, coming on as a substitute, that made all the difference. Just a shame that I signed him for Caley...
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/10 ICT 1 Dundee 0 (Marshall (74)) 6th</pre>
I guess I was fortunate that other results went our way and we stayed in the right half of the table. Football fans have incredibly short memories, and the ones at Dens Park have already forgotten that they were a first division club when I took over. They expect only the best now.

The few fans that travelled with us to Bucharest got to see some of the best, with Mitchell and McLean combining to put the tie beyond doubt. Young Gary King clutched his latest Under 21 callup papers in his hands all the way there and back, and had the biggest smile on his face that you can possibly imagine.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">31/10 Steaua Bucharest 1 Dundee 2 (McLean 32, Miu (65), Mitchell 78) Agg: 1-5. UEFA Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg</pre>
Romania on a Thursday, followed by Dens Park on a windy Sunday afternoon is really physically exhausting, so it's something of a surprise that we were even in the Motherwell game after 89 minutes, never mind Steve Mitchell having the presence of mind to volley home in the last minute and clinch victory. You really can't keep a man down when he's on form.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">3/11 Dundee 1 Motherwell 0 (Mitchell 90) 5th</pre>
After a well earned week off, we beat Hearts at Tynecastle the following Saturday by an identical margin. Steve Mitchell was again involved in the goal, winning the penalty that McLean stepped up and converted. After yet another week off, we managed a dour 0-0 draw at home against a Rangers side who played the last seventy minutes with only ten men. An opportunity missed, I suspect.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">9/11 Hearts 0 Dundee 1 (McLean 27pen) 5th16/11 Dundee 0 Rangers 0 5th</pre>
In between the two games, leftback Jim McKenzie departed the club for a 4 month loan spell. I didn't really expect him to ever come back. We also discovered the next destination for our European adventure. Austria, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger stadium of Sturm Graz.

Credit to the Austrians, they proved the most awkward opponents we had encountered (other than Roma) on our European travels. The only man who could break them down was Mark Dick, scoring his first Dundee goal after cutting in from the left wing. Homegrown forward Gerhard Peischi equalised two minutes later, and we had to settle for a draw as the habitants of the movie star's home town frustrated our forwards to such an extent that both were substituted in the second period.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">21/11 Sturm Graz 1 Dundee 1 (Dick 19, Peischi (21)) UEFA Cup 3rd Round 1st Leg</pre>
Three days later, we'd given up the wonderful rolling hills and snow-capped mountains of Austria for the rancid stench of smoked fish that welcomes all to Arbroath. We came away with a point, a third consecutive league clean sheet, and managed to hold onto our dinner. Still not enough, really.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">24/11 Arbroath 0 Dundee 0 5th</pre>
A Peter Hegarty goal on half time was enough to dispense with a fairly abysmal Dunfermline side, but wasn't enough to move us upwards out of 5th place. In fact, we seemed completely cemented in that position, as the month end defeat to Celtic (after Filipos Darlas had scored first, and then Sebastien Lindgren had performed miracles to keep the Dundee attack out) couldn't shift us either.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">27/11 Dundee 1 Dunfermline 0 (Hegarty 45) 5th30/11 Dundee 0 Celtic 1 (Darlas (14)) 5th</pre>
I think we can safely write off the League title this year. Thirteen points is a hell of a lot to make up.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 19 games (except where shown)1. Rangers 41 +23 (from 18 games)2. ICT 38 +15 (from 18 games)3. Hearts 35 +84. Celtic 32 +11 (from 18 games)5. Dundee 28 +7 (from 18 games)6. Aberdeen 27 -1</pre>

retired_eneko5613

1st January 2014

Dear Diary,

Mid afternoon on the first day of the new year. In true Scottish tradition, there's another party tonight, and yet I can only just manage to stop the room spinning long enough to write this. I need to concentrate on something, though, otherwise thoughts might return to lunch...and that might return as well.

At the beginning of the month, though, it looked like there might not be a party. An abysmal October had been followed by a generally satisfactory November, (made better by loanee Daniel Williamson's young player of the month award) and I wasn't going to let the players see the year in with a bang unless they saw this one out with, er, a bang!

Fortunately, we had the ideal start. Sturm Graz, visiting Dens Park for what I presume is the first time in their history, were a completely different side. Leaving their "Terminator" resilience back with Arnie, they capitulated to a first half Steve McLean goal, and a rarity soon after the break from Jim McGowan. Even the black comedy provided by John Dempster - coming on in the 69th minute and getting himself sent off for punching the opposition five minutes later - couldn't spoil the occasion.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5/12 Dundee 2 Sturm Graz 0 (McLean 23, McGowan 54) Agg: 3-1. UEFA Cup 3rd Round 2nd Leg</pre>
The UEFA cup would take it's usual winter break, returning in February, when we would face up to Roma's blue brother - Lazio.

Off went John Rae to Airdrie for the rest of the season, but our striking ranks were swelled as I decided to spend some of the cash that was burning holes in my tracksuit. After no little negotiation, we agreed a fee of £900k with Hibs for highly rated 24 year old Mark Grant. He was quite happy to fit in at the lower end of our wage structure, at least to start with, accepting just £925 per week for his 5 year contract.

Grant was handed a start for the trip to Livingston, but it was a rare start and a first goal of the season for Martin Lauchlan, followed by a more run of the mill strike for McLean that overhauled Livi's advantage and gave us all three points. That was by no means the full story of the game, as earlier our top striker had missed a penalty, and Livingston were forced to play the second half with only ten men when Dean Holden was dismissed for a professional foul seconds after the restart.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">8/12 Livingston 1 Dundee 2 (Rusk (28), Lauchlan 29, McLean 55) 5th</pre>
Although the League Cup is never at the forefront of our plans, we seem to have developed a nice habit of drifting through the early rounds with relative ease. Even at this, the quarter final stage, we seemed to brush past Hearts on their own patch without really troubling ourselves too much. It wasn't that exciting a match, the three goals on offer making up more than 50% of the reasonable chances, and it was down to Mitchell to provide the winner again, despite the couple of million pounds-worth of strikers who have arrived at the club since he did.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">11/12 Hearts 1 Dundee 2 (MacDonald 40, Sola (67), Mitchell 81) League Cup Qtr Final</pre>
Single goal winning margins were definitely the order of the day as we completed our pre-Christmas program with a win at Aberdeen, and back to back victories over Hibs. Pearson returned to scoring form with avengeance, whilst Holmes and Mitchell both reached the 5 goal mark. December was turning out alright after all.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">14/12 Aberdeen 0 Dundee 1 (Pearson 13) 4th18/12 Dundee 1 Hibs 0 (Holmes 7 - 5th of season) 4th21/12 Hibs 1 Dundee 2 (Mitchell 36 - 5th of season, Vassell (45), Pearson 58) 4th</pre>
Christmas leftovers taste sweeter than ever after Steve Mitchell again makes the difference in a narrow win over Motherwell, although credit here is due to Mark Grant who absolutely worked his socks off to help his striking partner out. It was a bit of the dirty game, with both Richie Hinds and Andrew MacLean failing to get into the Christmas spirit and picking up bookings whilst trying to put a halt to their former manager's party.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/12 Motherwell 0 Dundee 1 (Mitchell 63) 4th</pre>
The season of goodwill isn't supposed to be the season of goodbyes, but it was really an act of goodwill that saw me accept an offer of £350k for Stephen McCann, a Dundee player for the last five years and one of the few remaining to have been here longer than me. Hibs could offer him first team football, however, which I wasn't really in a position to do. In the past couple of years Mark Wilson, Tommy Davidson and even Steven Craig had risen above McCann in the pecking order, so it was best for him to move on. He can't be that disappointed, though, as he managed a First Division Championship medal, a League Cup winners medal and four associated runners up medals in his time with us.

New Years Eve saw the auld enemy, Caley Thistle, in town. The party was really on after Grant scored his first for the club, Delroy Facey equalised with twenty minutes to go, and - you've guessed it - Steve Mitchell stepped in to score the winner.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">31/12 Dundee 2 ICT 1 (Grant 45 - 1st for club, Facey (69), Mitchell 82) 3rd</pre>
That performance is enough to bring about the December Manager of the Month award for yours truly, and if we needed anything else to spice up the party then there's the minor fact of 8 consecutive victories being a club record. Oh, and we're up to 3rd in the league.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 24 games1. Rangers 57 +312. ICT 51 +233. Dundee 46 +134. Celtic 44 +145. Hearts 43 +156. Aberdeen 33 +2</pre>

retired_eneko5613

13th March 2014

Dear Diary,

Whilst the missus was out at the January sales, I was in search of some bargains of my own. Looking to further strengthen for the future, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to snap up a couple of young stars to be. First in through the door was twenty year old attacking midfielder Colin Alexander from Celtic. Colin had been an unnoticed member of the Celtic youth setup until October, when he was loaned out to Falkirk and went on to score five in nine games. With that sort of potential, even in a lower division, £190k was an absolute bargain and Celtic were possibly negligent in letting him go. We'll see on that one I guess. Anyway, he signed a fairly standard four year contract at £375 per week.

My second signing could potentially be even better. Darren Crawford, a year older than Alexander, capable of playing right across the midfield and in an attacking role, and already capped for the Under 21s. Amazingly for someone so young, he's already been in the game for four and a half seasons, starting out at Brechin City before moving south of the border to Darlington before hitting the big time with a £900k move to Chelsea. He only made one substitute appearance for the Londoners, but really caught the eye during loan spells at Cambridge, Falkirk and Ayr. His international status, and additional experience, earned him a £725 per week contract for five years, whilst he cost the club £210k.

Neither featured in the squad for the trip to struggling Ayr, where we comfortable extended our winning run mainly due to an excellent performance from Peter Hegarty.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">18/1 Ayr 0 Dundee 2 (Grant 51, Hegarty 80) 3rd</pre>
As expected, Jim McKenzie didn't return to Dens Park. His agent managed to arrange a move to Livingston, for which we received £160k. Good business, doubling our money on a player who never played much more than a bit part.

Peter Hegarty put on another man of the match performance in our next game, against Arbroath, but our winning run was ended and we were quite lucky to get a draw. If it hadn't been for Alex Holmes' injury time volley, we would be losing out unbeaten run as well.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">25/1 Dundee 1 Arbroath 1 (Quinn (45), Holmes 90) 3rd</pre>
A visit to Victoria Park, Dingwall, was an ideal opportunity for some of the younger players to experience some action. Gary King, Colin Clark and Darren Crawford all made their debuts, and although they all had good games it was undoubtably Crawford who made the headlines. Just two minutes into the game, Richie Waddell's cross was met perfectly by the youngster's head ad we were 1-0 up. Although County equalised through a harsh penalty, we never looked like we needed to get out of second gear, and there was another maiden goal for Andrew Rae, coming on as a substitute late in the second half.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">1/2 Ross County 1 Dundee 3 (Crawford 2, Smart (22pen), MacDonald 26, Andrew Rae 86) Scottish Cup 3rd Round</pre>
The youngsters returned to their training tops for the trip to Dunfermline, where McLean and Pearson both reached landmarks for the season in a comfortable 2-0 victory. Crawford and Clark were back in action again though for Hearts' visit. But it was experience that showed through this time, with Steve McLean converting both his chances, the first a penalty after twenty minutes or so, which saw the departure of Hearts keeper Voulgaris.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5/2 Dunfermline 0 Dundee 2 (McLean 32 - 10th of season, Pearson 36 - 5th of season) 3rd8/2 Dundee 2 Hearts 0 (McLean 21pen, 75) 3rd</pre>
If October and November had been poor, then January and February were certainly making up for it. With our current form, Ayr looked no match for us. But Cup Semi Finals at neutral venues can be strange occasions. 25000 in Easter Road saw no surprises this time though, as Mark Grant and Steve McLean put the Ayrshire to the sword with three goals between them. Once again, we had an appointment at Hampden for the League Cup final with very little hassle.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">19/2 Dundee 3 Ayr 1 (Grant 45, McLean 72, Grant 79, Lappin (80)) League Cup Semi Final</pre>
That victory also sees our unbeaten sequence record broken again. Extending it further than 14 games looked like it would prove challenging, with only three days rest before a Scottish Cup tie at Celtic Park

A first half goal from McLean (who else) looked for all intents and purposes to have done the job, though. The last laugh, however, was reserved for the Glaswegians, and Peter Crouch in particular, who equalised with the last kick of the game. Well, the last header to be precise, but that goes without saying really doesn't it?
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">22/2 Celtic 1 Dundee 1 (McLean 28, Crouch (90)) Scottish Cup 4th Round</pre>
So it was a replay on Tuesday, and one we really didn't need with Lazio visiting on Thursday. I had to try and shuffle my tired squad in an attempt to provide the strongest side for each game. It probably cost us the Scottish Cup game at least, as we went down by a single goal. Our defence, concentrating on the giant form of Crouch, failed to pick up Manolis Drosos in the box, and ironically, it was Crouch who put the cross in.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">25/2 Dundee 0 Celtic 1 (Drosos (13)) Scottish Cup 4th Round Replay</pre>
If the lads were tired for the Tuesday game, they were little fresher on Thursday. Reluctantly, this forced us into a negative style, and we presented the 13800 plus crowd with a highly unspectacular game against one of the true giants of European Football. In our minds we all knew that it wasn't going to be enough.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">27/2 Dundee 0 Lazio 0 UEFA Cup 4th Round 1st Leg</pre>
The manager of the month award for February, my 6th such award at Dundee, and the 17th time I had held that particular trophy in my career, put the month into some sort of perspective, despite the disappointing end. We were about to turn that disappointment around in impressive style.

Coming off the back of 4 games in 8 days, and with a weakened team as a result, most pundits had Dundee vs Aberdeen down as a potential banana skin for us. By half time, no more bets were being taken. A masterful afternoon's work from Steven Pearson in particular, setting up three of the four goals that allowed McLean to move onto fifteen for the season, and (in a rare start) Stevenson to score for the first time this season. All this before scoring the fourth and final goal himself on the stroke of half time. A demoralised Aberdeen side showed no fight in the second period, allowing us to wind down towards full time, and conserve energy for the week ahead.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">2/3 Dundee 4 Aberdeen 0 (McLean 4 - 15th of season, Stevenson 18 - 1st of season, Hegarty 25, Pearson 45) 3rd</pre>
So we were in good spirits for the long trip to Rome. True, we wouldn't have enough energy to play our natural, expansive game, but we'd already proved we could keep the Italians quiet. Plus we had the players capable of scoring a goal from just about nothing.

In front of 62000 screaming fans, complete with flares and fireworks, we just didn't perform though. Neil Alexander was probably the best player on our side, but could do nothing about a great Nicola Arena goal ten minutes into the second half. To add injury to insult, Steve McLean was helped off the field two minutes later with a foot injury, which would see him out for about two weeks.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">6/3 Lazio 1 Dundee 0 (Arena (56)) Agg: 1-0. UEFA Cup 4th Round 2nd Leg</pre>
And so the Romans had done for us again. Three times now, at different stages of the competition. It was becoming a little frustrating.

We returned home to see not just one, but two envelopes with the mark of the Scottish FA Internation division on them. Mark Wilson would, again, be joining up for the first of two friendlies against Greece, and this time he would be joined at the training camp by Peter Hegarty. On this seasons performance alone, no-one can deny him his chance.

And to bring things right up to date, yesterday we had one of the most poorly refereed excuses for a game I have had the misfortune to witness. Eight yellow cards, which meant that by the hour mark it was a 10 vs 10 game. Neither us nor Rangers troubled the scoreres, though.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">12/3 Rangers 0 Dundee 0 3rd</pre>
By some miracle, and ignoring the fact Caley Thistle have a game in hand, we're only three points off the top. Amazing.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 30 games (except where shown)1. ICT 63 +29 (from 29 games)2. Rangers 63 +293. Dundee 60 +234. Celtic 52 +18 (from 29 games)5. Hearts 48 +156. Aberdeen 43 0</pre>

retired_eneko5613

6th April 2014

Dear Diary,

League football, don't you just love it! Just when you think you're in with a shout, a couple of bad results and you're languishing again. Still, things haven't been that bad since I last wrote.

Little used loanee David McCall decided he liked living back in his native country so much that when Hibs offered Fulham £600k, he persuaded them to let him move. So, the day before the league cup final, he departed for Easter Road, leaving me with a nice empty gap on the subs bench. Still, there were players who could come in, and if McCall's playing record was anything to go by, they probably wouldn't be needed!

Just under 45000 watched us contest our third consecutive League Cup final, a repeat of the 2004 final for Dundee. This time, for the long term fans' sake, I was looking for revenge. Livi, obviously, were looking to repeat their victory in their first visit to the final since. In the end, this was a fairly one-sided event. No Steve McLean for us, so it was left to Mitchell to open the scoring with his first goal since December. On the stroke of half time Pearson made it two, and Livingston never looked like coming back.

Graciously, we applauded the Livingston players as they collected their runners up medal, before celebrating madly as we collected the trophy, heading back to it's familiar place in the Dens Park cabinet.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">16/3 Dundee 2 Livingston 0 (Mitchell 32, Pearson 45) League Cup Final</pre>
But, of course, the victory had a bitter twist. More than one, in fact. Goal scorer Mitchell picked up a knee injury in the closing minutes, which after examination was expected to keep him out for three weeks. And we had to play Livingston again three days later.

Dundee fans would have been excused for thinking they'd stepped back in time a couple of seasons, as Andy Walker and Andrew Stevenson lined up to lead the line. The pair were both far from match fit, and their rustiness showed in a dour first half. There was a goal from an usual source, though. A first of the season for Steve Thomson put us in front. Colin Alexander came on for his debut, but didn't really make an impact, and a sickening equaliser did us no favours at all.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">19/3 Dundee 1 Livingston 1 (Thomson 57 - 1st of season, McAllister (81)) 3rd</pre>
Celtic park was our next port of call, and just as in the cup, a last minute goal was to decide the game. We welcomed back Steve McLean from injury, but it was Darren Crawford who again stole the limelight, setting up Pearson for the opening goal and generally directing our midfield play in a man of the match performace. But a second half equaliser from Andrade was compounded in injury time when Stuart Henderson appeared to barge Manolis Drosos over. Penalty to Celtic, and no mistake from Russian Alan Fedoseev to give Celtic all three points.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">29/3 Celtic 2 Dundee 1 (Pearson 41, Andrade (64), Fedoseev (90pen)) 3rd</pre>
One thing was for sure, though. Darren Crawford's recent performances were being noticed. Any attempt to keep our rising starlet under wraps were definitely not helped by his selection as the young player of the month for March. I expect Chelsea to be coming for more money any day...

Our place in the Champions group of the league had been secured as much as two weeks ago, so the last game before the split was really all about positioning ourselves for the runin. Hibs needed a miracle to make the top half of the table, and it didn't look like there were any of those going when Steve McLean made a welcome return to the scoresheet with a well struck penalty. It was all square again just after the half hour mark, when one-time transfer target Paul McDonald equalised for the Edinburgh outfit. David McCall had a solid game in Hibs' defence, and seemed happy enough in green.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">5/4 Dundee 1 Hibs 1 (McLean 19pen, MacDonald (31)) 3rd</pre>
Back in December, I said that thirteen points was a hell of a lot to make up to the league leaders. Well, we made ten of them up and then threw it away, and with five games left find ourselves ten points from the lead. I'd like to think we could challenge for second, and that Champions League spot, though.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 33 games1. ICT 72 +342. Rangers 67 +283. Celtic 62 +234. Dundee 62 +225. Hearts 54 +186. Aberdeen 48 +2</pre>

retired_eneko5613

13th April 2014

Dear Diary,

The eagerly anticipated fax from the Premier League arrived, telling us to pack our bags and head to Tynecastle first. This would be followed by Celtic and Caley at home, Rangers away and finishing with Aberdeen at home. Once again the first couple of games were crucial, and in that time we could only watch and see how Rangers would do. In what was obviously a busy day for the Dundee secretary's office, the postie delivere a couple of under 21 callup letters for Tommy Davidson and, unsurprisingly, Darren Crawford. The match, against Greece, was on the 22nd - inbetween the crucial games against Celtic and Caley Thistle. Not the best of timing.

Hearts had nothing to play for, being already well adrift of even us. However, their inclusion of John Fisher, Joren Nuyts, Jim Paterson and newly signed Peter Marshall in the starting lineup, with Robert Malcolm on the bench, did not bode well. All that worry was for nothing, though. Peter Hegarty's fifth of the season, a fine dispatch of the rebound from his own header, separated the side.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">12/4 Hearts 0 Dundee 1 (Hegarty 33 - 5th of the season)</pre>
In fact, all three results were 1-0 victories, Rangers winning at Pittodrie, and Celtic beating the leaders to keep the championship race open. Therefore, it's pretty much as you were at the top.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 34 games1. ICT 72 +332. Rangers 70 +293. Celtic 65 +244. Dundee 65 +235. Hearts 54 +176. Aberdeen 48 +1</pre>

retired_eneko5613

23rd April 2014

Dear Diary,

So near, yet so far for Mark Wilson, who was included on the bench last night for Scotland's home friendly with Greece. We won 3-0, but disappointingly Wilson was the only outfield substitute not to get on the field and was thus denied his first cap. Some of the lads chose to turn up at Hampden to give Wilson much needed support, but some of the coaching staff, along with myself, headed off to Athens to watch the under 21s. Tommy Davidson made the starting line up for the first time in his career, and not only that, but he made the score sheet twice from the penalty shot in an equally impressive 3-0 win. The other scorer, Celtic's Barry Easton, certainly caught my eye...

What else has happened? Oh yes, a match last Saturday(!). Celtic came to town, and although the result shouted "stalemate", the match was far from it. Darren Crawford was included in the starting lineup again, and within three minutes he'd got on the scoresheet. Albeit a bit of a fluke goal, as he sliced a cross intended for McLean, and defeated Sebastian Lindgren without really trying. Celtic, with their irritating ability to throw a sucker punch, scored on the stroke of half time to equalise, and ex Hibs winger Mike Zonneveld chose the 7th minute of the second half to collect his first goal of the season. For once, though, it was our turn to grab the equaliser, Steve McLean scoring with quarter of an hour to go. For once Celtic had no reply.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">19/4 Dundee 2 Celtic 2 (Crawford 3, Crouch (45), Zonneveld (52), McLean 73)</pre>
That equalising goal marked McLean's 100th in the league. 78 of these had come whilst he was playing for me either at Caley Thistle or here at Dundee. That's certainly one career I've made!

The other results were a joy to behold. Caley Thistle ran up against their age old adversaries Aberdeen, and could only manage a 0-0 draw, whilst Hearts pulled off the shock of the week beating Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 35 games1. ICT 73 +332. Rangers 70 +273. Celtic 66 +244. Dundee 66 +235. Hearts 57 +196. Aberdeen 49 +1</pre>

retired_eneko5613

27th April 2014

Dear Diary,

A 4th minute injury to Caley Thistle's Austrian keeper Christian Friesenbichler was a real unexpected bonus, leaving the visitors to rely on unproven Darren Knox. We still had to take advantage, though, and it was Peter Hegarty who grabbed the intiative just before the break. The defence held solid in the second half, and when the referee's final whistle went, it signalled one of potentially the most important results of our season.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/4 Dundee 1 ICT 0 (Hegarty 44)</pre>
The match between Hearts and Aberdeen was a pointless affair that ended 1-0 to the Edinburgh side, but all eyes were on the last Old Firm derby of the season. Advantage went to the home side, as Celtic ran out 2-0 winners to really tighten things up.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 36 games1. ICT 73 +322. Rangers 70 +253. Celtic 69 +264. Dundee 69 +245. Hearts 60 +206. Aberdeen 49 0</pre>

retired_eneko5613

4th May 2014

Dear Diary,

Penultimate game, then. And a potentially nasty one at that, away at Ibrox. We hadn't managed a victory in any of the last three attempts, with two of them ending 0-0. The first half of this encounter also had goalless draw written all over it, The game turned on an incident early in the second half. Right back Ian Little carelessly tackled Stevenson from behind on the edge of the area, and the referee awarded a freekick. That should have been it, but Little chose to argue to tóss with the referee. Not a clever thing to do, especially when you've already had a yellow card in the first half.

Little was dismissed, and to really rub it in, Pearson put the freekick away. Three minutes from time, Stevenson made sure. Good lad.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">3/5 Rangers 0 Dundee 2 (Pearson 51, Stevenson 87)</pre>
All attention turned to other results. News from up north confirmed that Caley Thistle had failed to clinch the title, after Gary O'Connor scored an equaliser in the 90th minute at the Caledonian. Celtic beat Aberdeen 3-1, meaning there would be a three way fight for the title on the last day, and we would be in it!
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 37 games1. ICT 74 +322. Celtic 72 +283. Dundee 72 +264. Rangers 70 +235. Hearts 61 +206. Aberdeen 49 -2</pre>

retired_eneko5613

11th May 2014

Dear Diary,

So, yesterday had the potential to be the biggest day of my career, and the biggest for Dundee in most fans' living memory. If my old club slipped up, the door would be open for my current club and Celtic to grab glory. Rather than give my biased view of events on the day, I'll leave it to BBC Scotland's minute by minute countdown to relay events.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>15:13 GOAL!!! Darren Young scores his 5th of the season to put Hearts ahead at Celtic Park.
15:15 Nasty coming together at the Caledonian Stadium sees Caley's James Hamilton and Rangers' Richard Porter both stretchered off.
15:18 Sending Off! Rangers' Scott Baker dismissed after just three minutes on the pitch.
15:21 GOAL!!! Andrew Stevenson scores his 3rd of the season to put Dundee ahead at Dens Park against Aberdeen.
15:37 Sending Off! Caley Thistle's Mikael Antonsson dismissed to make it 10 vs 10 at the Caledonian Stadium.
15:38 GOAL!!! Rune Stokke scores his 11th of the season to put Rangers ahead at the Caledonian.
15:42 GOAL!!! Peter Marshall scores from the spot, his first for Hearts and 8th of the season, making it 2-0 at Celtic Park
15:43 GOAL!!! Kiegan Parker scores from the spot, his 17th of the season, to make the scores level at the Caledonian.
15:45 GOAL!!! Peter Crouch makes it 29 for the season, pulling Celtic back to within a goal of Hearts at Celtic Park.

HALF TIME: Current standings...
1st Caley Thistle 75 +32
2nd Dundee 75 +27
3rd Celtic 72 +27

16:01 Sending Off! Caley Thiste's Nathan Evans makes it four off at the Caledonian.
16:37 GOAL!!! Paul Rudden scores his 2nd of the season, but maybe the most important of his career for Caley Thistle, virtually clinching the title for them. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Only one goal in the entire of the second half, and that came in the lottery at the Caledonian. To think, if the goal had gone in at the other end we would have been champions.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">10/5 Dundee 1 Aberdeen (Stevenson 21)</pre>
Still, second place at least brings a Champions League spot!
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. Final Standings1. ICT 77 +332. Dundee 75 +273. Celtic 72 +274. Rangers 70 +225. Hearts 64 +216. Aberdeen 49 -3</pre>

retired_eneko5613

31st May 2014

Dear Diary,

We've just had a most excellent awards evening, and for once it was me who left everyone in shock, but more of that in a bit.

Since we clinched our 2nd place, the best finish since the club won the league in 1962, it's been quite a relaxing month. The only person dealing with any stress is Steve Thomson, who has found himself the subject of a bidding war. Hibs have offered, in succession, £1.8m, £2.2m and £2.6m whilst Motherwell trumped their last bid with one of £3.2m. All from clubs placed in the bottom half of the league, you'll notice. Did this stop him getting upset when we wouldn't let him go? No.

Daniel Williamson headed back to Fulham, whilst John Rae returned from his spell at Airdrie. All in time for the festivities to begin.

The Chairman's representative once again kicked off the celebrations, announcing Steve McLean as the fans' player of the year. He was joined in the Premier League team of the year by Neil Alexander and Jim McGowan. Once again, a new record average attendance was set - 13227, up 281 on last year, and notably over 13000 for the first time. He ended his speech with a toast to me, to which all present raised their glasses and applauded. I raised my glass in return, got to my feet and waited for the applause to subside before delivering them the shock news.

"Gentlemen, next season will be my last at Dens Park. I will be retiring from football managment next May."