McPake frustrated after Dundee have to settle for point

DUNDEE’S play-off push will go into the final three matches of the season after being held to a goalless draw at Dunfermline.

Manager James McPake was frustrated at his side’s inability to break through the Pars backline in a game he felt the Dark Blues dominated.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between, but there were a number of nearly moments for both sides.

Despite not managing to find that crucial goal, the Dens boss was, however, delighted with the performance of his defence as they kept a clean sheet for the third successive away game.

“Defensively we were excellent, we limited them to few chances,” McPake said.

“This is a team who scored two goals in six minutes and three goals in 12 at Dens this season, so to limit them to that is pleasing.

“I thought we dominated the game, but we couldn’t find a goal.

“We had chances and we are disappointed we didn’t take them, but we have positives to take.”

The point keeps Dunfermline five points behind the Dark Blues in the Championship table and moves Dundee four points ahead of Inverness, their next opponents.

They also fell behind Raith in the chase for second place after the Kirkcaldy side won at Queen of the South.

Victory at East End Park would have all but secured a place in the play-offs, but that confirmation will have to wait a little longer for Dundee.

McPake added: “It is a point at a difficult place to come and we have kept that gap over Dunfermline.

“It is important to keep that lead with three games to go, but we want to finish second.

“I am disappointed for the players as I thought they deserved the three points.

“We were much better than last Saturday (against Morton), but we never got the goal.

“It is the first time in a lot of games we haven’t scored, but we have a massive game next Tuesday against Inverness.”

Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford is refusing to set any points targets for his struggling Pars – he just wants to see his side get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

The East End Park side are now six matches without a victory in the Championship and have dropped out of the play-off positions.

Last night’s goalless home draw with Dundee kept them five points behind the Dark Blues and one off fourth-placed Inverness.

In holding James McPake’s side, the Pars didn’t fall any further behind.

However, Crawford is looking for more.

“It’s not now focusing on Dundee, it’s focusing on ourselves,” he said.

“We’ve got to win games of football.

“We’ve got three massive games coming up now.

“We’re in a situation now when it’s not in our hands for the first time over the season, but there’s going to be twists and turns.

“I think, from the Raith Rovers game, I’ve seen a reaction from the players.

“We’ve not seen it in terms of the results.

“We felt against Hearts that we could have taken all three, and we went to a hard place in Ayr and took a point.

“I don’t want to set any targets other than we’ve got three massive games of football coming up and we want to win all three.”