McCann: Dee will stick with our style
NEIL McCANN last night vowed his struggling Dundee side won’t ditch their free-flowing style.
The Dark Blues have won admirers for their brand of play since McCann took over but sit bottom of the table after four straight league defeats.
They travel to in-form Hibs on Saturday and manager McCann is standing by his principles.
He said: “I know the fans get edgy. People will say he has brought in this style, they are playing a certain way and yes it is attractive but look at the goals they are conceding.
“But we haven’t conceded a goal that to my mind jumps out from playing from the back. We have maybe coughed up a few chances but when we have conceded it has been cheaper goals.
“This is where we have a young group in terms of when they came together. I am not going to stop it and that’s not being ignorant. I have heard managers in the past who have said, ‘We won’t change.’
“But when results haven’t come I understand they have to change and we have to change to stop us conceding. That comes from work on the training ground to make sure when we are out of possession we are hard to beat.
“It’s like when you are teaching you have to go back and do wee refresher courses to make sure they are still remembering those things.” SCOTT LEITCH stepped out at Hampden ready to soak up cup final memories to savour for the rest of his life – then spent the next 12 years trying to forget the whole thing.
Now the former Motherwell captain prays the current crop of Fir Park stars can complete their fairytale final story with a happy ending to spare them the same bittersweet feelings.
Don’t get him wrong – Leitch can still look back with pride on the day he led the Steelmen out for the 2005 League Cup Final against Rangers.
For a club of Well’s size just to reach a major final at the National Stadium is a laudable achievement in itself. Even more so for Stephen Robinson’s side having knocked out Aberdeen and Gers on their way to this month’s showpiece against Celtic.
But getting there is one thing, enjoying the build-up and the excitement is another. Actually savouring it the rest of your days? Well that’s something different, when the end result is the kind of merciless 5-1 thumping Rangers delivered that day.
Leitch said: “There’s only one way to fully enjoy the occasion and want to relive the memories the rest of your life – win the Cup.
“It’s an amazing experience for the players, most of whom would have never experienced a semi-final before let alone get through that test to the Final.
“They have given their club and their supporters a fantastic day to look forward to and they deserve to enjoy the moment because it goes past so quickly.
“But if the outcome isn’t what you want, you just want to forget it as quickly as possible!
“My own feelings were of pride to get there and how we’d given the club and the fans the chance to be part of a great occasion.
“But the thing that really hit home to us players was knowing our family and friends were there cheering us on – and then feeling like we’d let everybody down by losing so heavily.
“We were playing against a very good Rangers side and they deserved to win.
“Hopefully that won’t be the case this time because this team will be up against a very good Celtic side.
“But again it’s a credit to the manager, the players and everyone at the club to have such an occasion to look forward to. Hopefully we’ll have that wee bit of luck you need in any Final for the result to go your way.”
That meeting with Rangers became billed the Cooper Final in honour of Davie Cooper, who had become a hero to both sets of supporters during his illustrious career.
Now one of Leitch’s Motherwell team-mates from that day – Phil O’Donnell – will be honoured with the same poignant tribute in this final.
O’Donnell performed with distinction for both Celtic and Well during a life tragically cut short in 2007 when he collapsed on the Fir Park pitch during a game against Dundee United. He was aged just 35.
The decision to make this meeting of his two former clubs a special tribute to O’Donnell was warmly welcomed by Leitch, who admits his friend will be in his thoughts when he steps inside Hampden.
Leitch said: “It’s an amazing gesture because both Phil, and Davie before him, were unbelievable players and great people too.
“To have that accolade where the clubs are making this tribute to Phil and his family is a great gesture. Everyone feels for the families first and foremost but it’s fitting to use these occasions to celebrate the wonderful players, great characters and just good people that they were.
“It will only make this final even more special for everyone connected with our club, who will always remember Phil in the highest regard.”
The big day on Sunday, November 26, will also be especially pleasing for Leitch, Motherwell’s youth academy director, who will see two graduates hit their highest stage.
Chris Cadden and Allan Campbell have established themselves as key members of Robinson’s first team this season and Leitch promises there are even more waiting in the wings.
He added: “Chris and Allan are great kids, honest hard-working boys and they’ve taken their chance. It’s encouraging for us as an academy because there are a lot of other ones in the pipeline still to come through.
“It’s great for those kids to see these boys as an example to follow – proof there is a pathway into the first team.
“We’re really pleased they’re getting the opportunity to go and play but they’ve grabbed it, they are performing well and keeping their place on merit.
“I hope to see more breaking through before the end of the season. We’ve got boys out on loan and others in our Under-20 team who are doing really well.
“It’s a great time to be at the club. The manager has come in and done extremely well but so have the players, many of whom only came in this summer.
“That’s credit to the guys who