Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dee must take leaf out of Hearts’ book
MERRY Christmas to you all, I hope Santa was good to you.
And for Dundee fans the festive season might be about to get merrier!
They’re facing Celtic at Dens Park today in what could be a cracker of a lunchtime affair.
It might, just, also be a game the Dark Blues can come out on top in — if they take a leaf out of Hearts’ book.
At Tynecastle last week the Jambos ended the Hoops’ long unbeaten domestic run in spectacular fashion with a well-deserved 4-0 win.
On the day it might have been an even more handsome success, because, as well as the chances they converted, Craig Levein’s men missed a couple of decent opportunities as well.
For me that showed two things.
First, as well ahead of the rest of the Premiership as Celtic are, they can be got at.
Press them high and they don’t look comfortable, they will make mistakes and can lose goals.
Second, it reminded me of what I’ve always said, dating back to when I was a young player at Dundee.
That is that when you face the Old Firm you might as well have a go.
Usually they have better players, particularly in the attacking areas of the pitch, and that means if you sit back and try to hold out for a draw, or maybe sneak a win, 99 times out of 100 you will lose.
Sure you’ll also probably lose if you try to play open attacking football but, at least if you do that, you will increase your chances of pulling off a shock.
Beating them will still be a long shot but, for me, too many teams over the past few months have turned up against Celtic and just accepted they were going to lose.
Today, I don’t see Dundee doing that because Neil McCann is a manager who likes to see his team having a go.
Of course I expect him to have paid close attention to how he’s going to try and cope with the attacking threat of the Parkhead front line.
He will also, I’m sure, be telling his players to get on the ball and play their natural game and get forward whenever possible.
McCann should also be looking for his men to be right in Celtic’s faces high up the pitch.
Not allowing them time to settle on the ball was the foundation for the Hearts win and it can bring Dundee a reward today.