JACK IN BOX RESCUES DEE
LAST NIGHT’S ACTION
NEIL McCANN’S new Dundee era got off to a winning start as Jack Hendry pounced to snatch a last-gasp victory – but the gaffer was far from satisfied.
Defender Hendry settled the tie in a stunning finale as he rose to head in a 90th-minute decider.
Fellow new boy Sofien Moussa looked to have won it for the Premiership outfit with just seven minutes left as he turned in a Scott Allan free-kick.
But Lewis Vaughan’s equaliser for Raith set up Hendry’s incredible finish.
And while McCann admits there’s plenty improvement to come from his new-look side he was happy with their never-say-die spirit.
He said: “There’s loads to work on, there’s loads I’m disappointed with in terms of how we played.
“Everything we’ve done this pre-season is geared towards winning. You get rewarded if you win, even games in training.
“And I was really pleased they took the ball back and didn’t feel sorry for themselves after the equaliser. It was get up the park and go for the winner.”
With five new faces in the starting line-up there was a sense of uncertainty about how McCann’s reign as permanent manager would kick off.
The Dens Park boss swithered over taking the job this summer after keeping the team in the Premiership.
But there was little doubt about him stamping his mark on the team ahead of the new campaign.
Recent additions Glen Kamara, Scott Allan, Roarie Deacon, Jack Hendry and Randy Wolters all made into McCann’s first competitive selection.
On-loan Celtic midfielder Allan was heavily involved early on and provided the assist for Moussa to decide the tie.
The 25-year-old showed a willingness to graft when he chased down a slack backpass from Iain Davidson early on.
Then he proved his dead-ball prowess with a free-kick that almost picked out Kevin Holt lurking at the back post.
Davidson redeemed himself with a superb saving header.
The Dark Blues enjoyed the bulk of the early play but Rovers, revamped since relegation to League One under former Dundee manager Barry Smith, carried a threat. Midway through the first half they burst to life and almost found the breakthrough. Jason Thomson’s low cross was controlled and laid off by new signing Greig Spence but Lewis Vaughan’s shot was held low to his right by Scott Bain.
Moments later summer recruit Liam Buchanan had a net-bound shot blocked in a crowded Dundee box.
With seven minutes to go to the interval, Buchanan brilliantly controlled an up and under from Kyle Benedictus but Bain was equal to his shot on the turn. Dundee raced up the other end and created the half ’s best chance.
Wolters danced past Ross Callachan on the edge of the box but his stinging shot crashed back off the corner of post and bar.
Just before the break Faissal El Bakhtaoui failed to connect properly with an opening 12 yards out and Aaron Lennox got down to save.
The teams traded blows after the