Dee end with loss

PLAYERRATINGS Season finishes with a whimper for Dark Blues

LAST day of the season, safety assured and the sun shining down – time to enjoy a wee holiday from the stresses and strains of Premiership football.

That was supposed to be the mindset of the home fans wandering up to Dens Park on Saturday.

Sadly, the Dundee players were the ones thinking that way as they bumbled through the last 90 minutes of the season in barely second gear.

In what was supposed to be a rousing send-off for the home support after a season that tested their patience with their team throughout, apathy reigned around Dens by the final whistle as Dees no doubt wondered why they bothered showing up.

Going into the game, manager Neil McCann said over and over how his team were going to be professional and treat it like any other league game.

It seems like that warning went in one ear and out the other for a number of the players as the display lacked any kind of intensity.

That led to an earful from the gaffer post-match as he let his players know in no uncertain terms that he expected more from them.

It has to be said, though, there were positive performances in the game for Dundee.

None, however, were able to change the course of the match.

Losing Paul McGowan after just over half-an-hour was the moment where Dundee’s aggression and determination faded.

Once he’d limped off with a muscle injury, it showed just how essential he is to the team.

Before going off, he was the best player on the pitch.

He was running at the defence, opening them up, testing the goalkeeper and it seemed only a matter of time before the Dark Blues opened the scoring.

What can be overlooked is how his personality can bring more out of the players around him.

Something as simple as a good old moan for a slack pass or a poor ball is vital for keeping standards high and it’s clear Dundee’s standards slipped once McGowan went off.

His replacement Randy Wolters tried his best with some good positive runs and decent crosses into the box but there was nothing in the middle of the park to get the team going.

Glen Kamara has caught the eye of plenty clubs this season, and no wonder after a superb first season for Dundee but, in what might be his last game for the club depending on what happens this summer, he was well off the pace against Partick.

Young goalkeeper Calum Ferrie had a good home debut, early on plucking the ball out of the top corner before coping well with crosses that came his way despite bodies in front of him.

Full-backs Cammy Kerr and Kevin Holt both continued their fine form to finish off the campaign but for the rest there were few pass marks.

As for Partick, they’d have been delighted to come up against Dundee in that sort of mood.

For much of the first-half they barely looked bothered themselves about the looming threat of relegation before McGowan’s injury.

By the end up, though, Kris Doolan came on to do what he does best and kept his side up – for the time being.

An entirely forgettable afternoon for the Dark Blues was made a memorable one for the 969 travelling Jags.