Dundee 0-4 Livingston: Mark McGhee’s home debut ends in dismay

Mark McGhee’s first home game as Dundee manager ended in humiliation as the Scottish Premiership’s bottom side were dismantled by Livingston.

Three goals in the first 21 minutes by Bruce Anderson – twice – and Scott Pittman put David Martindale’s visitors in a commanding position, before a cute Jack Fitzwater finish killed the game.

The defeat leaves the Dens Park side anchored to the foot of the division, nine points from the safety of 10th place, whilst Livingston push themselves into the top six.

• Reaction & as it happened

As bad as Dundee were, Livingston were excellent. They started how they meant to go on.

After only three minutes, Alan Forrest ghosted to the bye-line. His cut-back was palmed straight to Anderson, who was more than happy to gobble up the chance presented to him.

The hosts’ statuesque defending was further punished when Joel Nouble collected on the right, danced by Cammy Kerr and fired low into the box. This time Pittman was standing in wait to tap home from close range.

Dundee didn’t learn from their previous two lessons. Forrest, instrumental once again, played a quick free kick into the path of Nicky Devlin, who squared to Anderson, running in front of his man to fire in a third.

Just 21 minutes had been played and Dundee were three goals behind. Their fans were leaving early. Zeno Ibsen Rossi was made an example of, hauled off in place of Paul McMullan.

Livingston could have made the scoreline even more impressive, with Ayo Obileye, Andrew Shinnie and Pittman all going close. The latter had the ball in the net at another point, only for the offside flag to deny the visitors another goal.

The only chance which might of gotten McGhee out of his seat in the stands fell to Ryan Sweeney before half-time, but Max Stryjek was right behind that header. It was all the Polish keeper had to do all afternoon.

After the hour mark, Livingston finally got their fourth. Forrest’s corner was headed off the line and back to him, but the winger played it back to Fitzwater, who showed good composure to take a touch, get his head up, and curl into the back post.

Those plucky Dundee fans that had remained, now made for the exits. When they had not been silenced by the visitors play, they were booing their own team’s display. And who can blame them.

Man of the Match – Bruce Anderson

What did we learn?

If McGhee was an unpopular appointment, his approval ratings might now be unrecoverable after just two games. It’s hard to see what the new manager can possibly do to stop his side hurtling towards the Premiership trap door.

The leakiest defence in the league, they looked devoid of any confidence when being attacked directly. Up top, they created very little and Zak Rudden had done very little by the time he was subbed off.

The travelling Livingston fans, meanwhile, were delighted. They have a very tough run of fixtures coming up – Dundee United, Hearts and Celtic on the immediate horizon – but they can take every confidence from this performance.

Forrest is on a superb run of form, notching two assists and setting up another with his quick thinking. His contract is up in the summer and teams higher up in the league will almost certainly be sniffing around him.

What’s next?

A hectic run of fixtures awaits Dundee, with the first test a midweek visit of Hibernian on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Livingston host Dundee United (both 19:45 GMT).

Player of the match

HoltJason Holt

with an average of 7.76

Dundee

1. Squad number22Player nameDaley-Campbell

2. Squad number35Player nameRossi

3. Squad number18Player nameMcMullan

4. Squad number77Player nameMcGinn

5. Squad number5Player nameSweeney

6. Squad number20Player nameRudden

7. Squad number24Player nameAnderson

8. Squad number21Player nameLawlor

9. Squad number6Player nameMcGhee

10. Squad number9Player nameMullen

11. Squad number2Player nameKerr

12. Squad number8Player nameByrne

13. Squad number15Player nameMulligan

14. Squad number26Player nameAdam

15. Squad number3Player nameMarshall

16. Squad number10Player nameMcGowan

Livingston

1. Squad number18Player nameHolt

2. Squad number9Player nameAnderson

3. Squad number8Player namePittman

4. Squad number12Player nameSoto

5. Squad number29Player namePenrice

6. Squad number33Player nameOmeonga

7. Squad number6Player nameObileye

8. Squad number22Player nameShinnie

9. Squad number2Player nameDevlin

10. Squad number17Player nameForrest

11. Squad number5Player nameFitzwater

12. Squad number19Player nameNouble

13. Squad number14Player nameBailey

14. Squad number32Player nameStryjek

15. Squad number23Player nameChukwuemeka

16. Squad number3Player nameLongridge

Line-ups

Dundee

Formation 5-3-2

21Lawlor

22Daley-Campbell35Rossi6McGhee5Sweeney2Kerr

8Byrne15Mulligan24Anderson

9Mullen20Rudden

• 21Lawlor
• 22Daley-CampbellBooked at 49mins
• 35RossiSubstituted forMcMullanat 23′minutes
• 6McGhee
• 5Sweeney
• 2Kerr
• 8ByrneSubstituted forAdamat 45′minutes
• 15MulliganSubstituted forMcGinnat 45′minutes
• 24AndersonSubstituted forMcGowanat 81′minutes
• 9MullenBooked at 29mins
• 20RuddenSubstituted forMarshallat 60′minutes

Substitutes

• 3Marshall
• 4Fontaine
• 10McGowan
• 16Elliott
• 17McCowan
• 18McMullan
• 26Adam
• 30Sharp
• 77McGinn

Livingston

Formation 4-3-3

32Stryjek

2Devlin5Fitzwater6Obileye29Penrice

8Pittman18Holt33Omeonga

19Nouble9Anderson17Forrest

• 32Stryjek
• 2Devlin
• 5Fitzwater
• 6Obileye
• 29PenriceSubstituted forLongridgeat 81′minutes
• 8PittmanSubstituted forShinnieat 85′minutes
• 18Holt
• 33Omeonga
• 19NoubleSubstituted forBaileyat 72′minutes
• 9AndersonSubstituted forSotoat 72′minutes
• 17ForrestSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 81′minutes

Substitutes

• 3Longridge
• 11Montaño
• 12Soto
• 14Bailey
• 15Boyes
• 22Shinnie
• 23Chukwuemeka
• 24Kelly
• 31Konovalov

Referee:

Bobby Madden

Attendance:

678

Live Text

1. Match ends, Dundee 0, Livingston 4.

2. Second Half ends, Dundee 0, Livingston 4.

3. Charlie Adam (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

4. Foul by Sebastian Soto (Livingston).

5. Attempt saved. Andrew Shinnie (Livingston) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Caleb Chukwuemeka.

6. Attempt missed. Charlie Adam (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Niall McGinn.

7. Substitution, Livingston. Andrew Shinnie replaces Scott Pittman.

8. Cammy Kerr (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Foul by Sebastian Soto (Livingston).

10. Substitution, Dundee. Paul McGowan replaces Max Anderson.

11. Substitution, Livingston. Jackson Longridge replaces James Penrice.

12. Substitution, Livingston. Caleb Chukwuemeka replaces Alan Forrest.

13. Max Anderson (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

14. Foul by Scott Pittman (Livingston).

15. Foul by Daniel Mullen (Dundee).

16. Nicky Devlin (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

17. Attempt missed. Odin Bailey (Livingston) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Scott Pittman.

18. Attempt blocked. Stephane Omeonga (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

19. Substitution, Livingston. Sebastian Soto replaces Bruce Anderson.

20. Substitution, Livingston. Odin Bailey replaces Joel Nouble.

Bruce Anderson tucks home the third after just 21 minutesMark McGhee’s first home game as Dundee manager ended in humiliation as the Scottish Premiership’s bottom side were dismantled by Livingston. Three goals in the first 21 minutes by Bruce Anderson – twice – and Scott Pittman put David Martindale’s visitors in a commanding position, before a cute Jack Fitzwater finish killed the game. The defeat leaves the Dens Park side anchored to the foot of the division, nine points from the safety of 10th place, whilst Livingston push themselves into the top six.Reaction & as it happenedAs bad as Dundee were, Livingston were excellent. They started how they meant to go on. After only three minutes, Alan Forrest ghosted to the bye-line. His cut-back was palmed straight to Anderson, who was more than happy to gobble up the chance presented to him.The hosts’ statuesque defending was further punished when Joel Nouble collected on the right, danced by Cammy Kerr and fired low into the box. This time Pittman was standing in wait to tap home from close range.Dundee didn’t learn from their previous two lessons. Forrest, instrumental once again, played a quick free kick into the path of Nicky Devlin, who squared to Anderson, running in front of his man to fire in a third.Just 21 minutes had been played and Dundee were three goals behind. Their fans were leaving early. Zeno Ibsen Rossi was made an example of, hauled off in place of Paul McMullan. Livingston could have made the scoreline even more impressive, with Ayo Obileye, Andrew Shinnie and Pittman all going close. The latter had the ball in the net at another point, only for the offside flag to deny the visitors another goal.The only chance which might of gotten McGhee out of his seat in the stands fell to Ryan Sweeney before half-time, but Max Stryjek was right behind that header. It was all the Polish keeper had to do all afternoon.After the hour mark, Livingston finally got their fourth. Forrest’s corner was headed off the line and back to him, but the winger played it back to Fitzwater, who showed good composure to take a touch, get his head up, and curl into the back post.Those plucky Dundee fans that had remained, now made for the exits. When they had not been silenced by the visitors play, they were booing their own team’s display. And who can blame them.Man of the Match – Bruce AndersonThe striker’s predatory instincts have really come to the fore this season. That’s 11 league goals now.What did we learn?If McGhee was an unpopular appointment, his approval ratings might now be unrecoverable after just two games. It’s hard to see what the new manager can possibly do to stop his side hurtling towards the Premiership trap door.The leakiest defence in the league, they looked devoid of any confidence when being attacked directly. Up top, they created very little and Zak Rudden had done very little by the time he was subbed off.The travelling Livingston fans, meanwhile, were delighted. They have a very tough run of fixtures coming up – Dundee United, Hearts and Celtic on the immediate horizon – but they can take every confidence from this performance.Forrest is on a superb run of form, notching two assists and setting up another with his quick thinking. His contract is up in the summer and teams higher up in the league will almost certainly be sniffing around him.What’s next?A hectic run of fixtures awaits Dundee, with the first test a midweek visit of Hibernian on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Livingston host Dundee United (both 19:45 GMT).Player of the matchHoltJason Holtwith an average of 7.76DundeeSquad number22Player nameDaley-CampbellSquad number35Player nameRossiSquad number18Player nameMcMullanSquad number77Player nameMcGinnSquad number5Player nameSweeneySquad number20Player nameRuddenSquad number24Player nameAndersonSquad number21Player nameLawlorSquad number6Player nameMcGheeSquad number9Player nameMullenSquad number2Player nameKerrSquad number8Player nameByrneSquad number15Player nameMulliganSquad number26Player nameAdamSquad number3Player nameMarshallSquad number10Player nameMcGowanLivingstonSquad number18Player nameHoltSquad number9Player nameAndersonSquad number8Player namePittmanSquad number12Player nameSotoSquad number29Player namePenriceSquad number33Player nameOmeongaSquad number6Player nameObileyeSquad number22Player nameShinnieSquad number2Player nameDevlinSquad number17Player nameForrestSquad number5Player nameFitzwaterSquad number19Player nameNoubleSquad number14Player nameBaileySquad number32Player nameStryjekSquad number23Player nameChukwuemekaSquad number3Player nameLongridgeLine-upsDundeeFormation 5-3-221Lawlor22Daley-Campbell35Rossi6McGhee5Sweeney2Kerr8Byrne15Mulligan24Anderson9Mullen20Rudden21Lawlor22Daley-CampbellBooked at 49mins35RossiSubstituted forMcMullanat 23’minutes6McGhee5Sweeney2Kerr8ByrneSubstituted forAdamat 45’minutes15MulliganSubstituted forMcGinnat 45’minutes24AndersonSubstituted forMcGowanat 81’minutes9MullenBooked at 29mins20RuddenSubstituted forMarshallat 60’minutesSubstitutes3Marshall4Fontaine10McGowan16Elliott17McCowan18McMullan26Adam30Sharp77McGinnLivingstonFormation 4-3-332Stryjek2Devlin5Fitzwater6Obileye29Penrice8Pittman18Holt33Omeonga19Nouble9Anderson17Forrest32Stryjek2Devlin5Fitzwater6Obileye29PenriceSubstituted forLongridgeat 81’minutes8PittmanSubstituted forShinnieat 85’minutes18Holt33Omeonga19NoubleSubstituted forBaileyat 72’minutes9AndersonSubstituted forSotoat 72’minutes17ForrestSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 81’minutesSubstitutes3Longridge11Montaño12Soto14Bailey15Boyes22Shinnie23Chukwuemeka24Kelly31KonovalovReferee:Bobby MaddenAttendance:678Live TextMatch ends, Dundee 0, Livingston 4.Second Half ends, Dundee 0, Livingston 4.Charlie Adam (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Sebastian Soto (Livingston).Attempt saved. Andrew Shinnie (Livingston) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Caleb Chukwuemeka.Attempt missed. Charlie Adam (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Niall McGinn.Substitution, Livingston. Andrew Shinnie replaces Scott Pittman.Cammy Kerr (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by Sebastian Soto (Livingston).Substitution, Dundee. Paul McGowan replaces Max Anderson.Substitution, Livingston. Jackson Longridge replaces James Penrice.Substitution, Livingston. Caleb Chukwuemeka replaces Alan Forrest.Max Anderson (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Foul by Scott Pittman (Livingston).Foul by Daniel Mullen (Dundee).Nicky Devlin (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Attempt missed. Odin Bailey (Livingston) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Scott Pittman.Attempt blocked. Stephane Omeonga (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.Substitution, Livingston. Sebastian Soto replaces Bruce Anderson.Substitution, Livingston. Odin Bailey replaces Joel Nouble.