Lockwood stunner earns Dee first home win of the season

By Ewan Smith
4 Nov 2012 00:01

MATT LOCKWOOD'S strike secured Barry Smith's men just their second win of the campaign with their first victory also coming against the Jambos.
MATT LOCKWOOD scored a stunning free-kick to hand Dee their first home win of the season – and confirm their status as Hearts’ bogey team.

Lockwood’s goal arrived in 21 minutes and Barry Smith’s side held on to pick up just their second SPL win of the season, with both having come against the Jambos.

Dundee remain rooted to the foot of the table but Dens Park assistant manager/defender Lockwood hopes yesterday’s victory can be the kick-start they have been waiting for.

He said: “Hearts are probably sick of the sight of us. We’ve only got seven points this season and six of them have come against them! We are definitely their bogey team.

“But we must hope this isn’t a one off and it can be a turning point.

“We have a lot of belief in our dressing room and it’s time for us to show we are good enough to beat more teams than just Hearts.”

Dundee looked on a mission right from the first whistle as they scrapped for every loose ball and tried to unsettle Hearts every time they tried to get a foothold in the game.

But for all their determination, Dundee were still vulnerable to the odd clanger and could easily have gifted Hearts a 10th-minute lead.

Keeper Rab Douglas raced out of his box for what should have been a routine clearance only to blast the ball off Kyle Benedictus’ back.

The ball spun beyond Douglas before bouncing wide to leave Hearts with just a corner.

That proved to be a pivotal moment for the home side who hit the front 11 minutes later.

Gary Irvine went on a marauding run down the right but was pushed to the deck by Marius Zaliukas.

The home fans protested furiously for a penalty and a card to be shown to the Lithuanian defender but had to settle for just a free-kick.

That proved more than enough for Smith’s troops though as Lockwood unleashed an unstoppable left-foot strike into the top corner.

The visitors tried desperately to find a way back into the game but were limited to shots from distance by a dogged Dundee defence.

Their best first-half chance fell to Mehdi Taouil with the Moroccan midfielder sending in a swerving, dipping 30-yard effort that was parried wide by Douglas.

The keeper was at it again in 34 minutes to deny Arvydas Novikovas with a fine low stop.

But it was Hearts who were the happier side to hear the half-time whistle as they nearly fell 2-0
down just before the break.

Lockwood’s long hopeful ball out of defence was superbly dummied by Steven Milne to allow strike partner Colin Nish to run one-on-one with keeper Jamie MacDonald.

Nish sped past MacDonald but his driven low dig was blocked on the line by Zaliukas.

Hearts tried to get back into it after the break but were limited to very few attempts on goal.

Andy Webster drove wide from a Danny Grainger corner and Zaliukas headed over in the dying moments.

In truth the home side could and probably should have won this more convincingly with sub John Baird seeing his low effort superbly turned around by MacDonald.

Lockwood added: “We held on so well after scoring and could have won more convincingly.

“I’ve actually scored a few free-kicks like that one in my time and I really fancied it today. I’m glad it went in and we deserved the win.”

Taken from the Daily Record