McCANN FEELING TENSION
Aberdeen jinx continues at Dens
Neil McCann has ordered his hot-head strikers to keep their cool after they choked in front of goal. Aberdeen chalked up a 10th straight win over their Tayside rivals thanks to a penalty from Gary Mackay-Steven. But it could have been so different. Dundee manager McCann knows it –and he couldn’t hide his hurt. The Dens men passed up a big box of chances – they hit double-figures for shots. Bu t each time McCann saw his hitmen lose their heads at the moment of truth. Tunisian hitman Sof ien Moussa was the worst culprit, passing up two gilt- edged chances either side of half-time. But all his frontmen were lacking in composure – resulting in McCann’s call for cool heads next time. He said: “We had three chances that I would call 100 hundred per cent opportunities to score. “But we didn’t make the keeper work once – so that’s where we fall down.
“The guys in that position need to slow down. All our forwards need to show more composure.
“It’s the one thing you can’t work on. You can’t replicate having that chance in a game.
“The best players go cold in those situations and don’t rush things.
“Moussa got battered at times and his hold-up play is great while Jean Mendy worked his socks off.
“But you have to make the keeper work when you get the chance. I am not having a go at the strikers. They understand but it’s a sore one.”
The Dark Blues are still pointless after the first two Premiership clashes of the new campaign.
Mackay- Steven made them regret their lack of a killer touch by slotting away an expertly-taken 75th-minute penalty.
That gives Derek McInnes’ side their first league win of the season following last weekend’s openingday draw with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers at Pittodrie.
Dundee were intent on bouncing back from losing 2-1 to newlypromoted St Mirren last week.
McCann kept his faith in blunder keeper Jack Hamilton whose late error gifted Saints their winner.
After a slow start, the first Dundee danger was created
after 15 minutes.
Mid f i e l d e r K ha r l Madianga took it on himself to try and enliven proceedings and the Frenchman’s effort from distance just c lea red Joe Lewis’ bar. Moussa was busy enough, putting himself about up front. The first of his golden chances came af ter 21 minutes. Jesse Curran, the Austral ian full-back, went on a galloping run down the right. His cross eluded the entire Dons defence only for Moussa to swipe wildly at his f inish that sailed well wide. There was no lack of early-season energy or aggression from both sides.
Midway through the first-half, Lewis Ferguson put in a reckless challenge on Madianga right in front of ref Bobby Madden and picked up a booking.
Aberdeen’s reply came just after the half-hour.
Niall McGinn’s whipped cross caused some consternation within the Dens defence, only for Sam Cosgrove to glance his header well wide of Hamilton’s goal.
The first- half still simmered along with neither team looking like taking a firm command.
Aberdeen stopper MikeyDevlin was booked for going in high on Dundee hitman Moussa.
Soon after, Cosgrove had a sniff of goal thanks to Stevie May’s cut-back inside the box – but his shot lacked conviction.
This wasn’t turning into Moussa’s day. Adi l Nabi, a second- hal f substitute for Dundee, threaded through a pass for his team-mate early in the second-half. Just when composure was most required, Moussa made a mess of his effort – and not for the first time McCann showed his frustration. His failure to even test Lewis saw the big striker receive a bit of stick from Dundee’s angry fans. Mendy wasn’t much better a few minutes later. Moussa was the provider with a forward flick but his team- mate was just as bad in front of goal. Dons sub Bruce Anderson almost fired the opener in 65 minutes when his left- foot shot crashed off the bar. But Ma ck a y - Steven won it from the spot after Genseric Kusunga stupidly handled Dom Ball’s header to gift the Dons victory.