Captain enjoying change in fortunes O’Dea impressed by McCann’s Midas touch after priceless victory

Dundee skipper Darren O’Dea admits he has been more than impressed by the job new boss Neil McCann has done in the short time he has been in charge at the club.

The interim manager’s Midas touch worked again on Saturday when he masterminded another priceless victory against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park thanks to a solitary Marcus Haber goal.

O’Dea admits it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what has changed so significantly to transform a team that had lost seven in a row into one that has now secured back-to-back victories.

However, what he is certain of is that he wants this dramatic reversal of fortunes to continue until the end of the season.

The Irishman said: “There are plenty of differences and a new manager is the first one. Normally when a manager goes, there are a lot of problems but it wasn’t really like that.

“Maybe some of the players have taken to the new manager and sometimes that happens.

“For me personally, it has been the same as it has been all year but we are probably getting more out of certain players and that’s great.

“He (McCann) has been very impressive. He has been very clear and he quickly had a grasp on each player individually which is not easy as he has to look after a whole squad.

“He is very thorough in everything he does. But listen, we have worked well all season so it’s not a case that we have started working now.

“It’s maybe that some players have reacted a bit differently. Maybe it is the freshness . . . I don’t know.

“But long may it continue as the last two games have been great.”

McCann, of course, is in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season.

When asked if he hoped the manager might be persuaded to stay on if the players continue to do well, O’Dea said: “When he came in there was five games to go and we were in the play-off spot.

“Certainly he has just talked about these five games and as I said he has been fantastic since he came in.

“Everybody has reacted to him really, really well.

“That (staying on) is something for another day – the most important thing is that we train the way we have and then when next Saturday comes, we perform the way we have in the last two games.”

The Dark Blues started strongly at Kilmarnock and carved out a superb opening in the 20th minute. Faissal El Bakhtaoui hit a great cross ball to Mark O’Hara on the right with the former Killie man squaring to Haber 12 yards out but his shot was well saved by home keeper Freddie Woodman.

Dundee could and probably should have opened the scoring in the 35th minute. El Bakhtaoui produced some great trickery down the right before presenting the ball on a plate for Haber but the big Canadian directed his header wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

However, Dundee finally took the lead in the 55th minute to the absolute

It’s maybe that some players have reacted a bit differently. Maybe it isthe freshness...I don’t know. DARREN O’DEA

delight of the large travelling support. Paul McGowan dug out a telling cross from the left with Haber this time making absolutely no mistake with a close-range header past the helpless Woodman.

They had another great chance to put the game to bed in the 63rd minute when Tom Hateley sent an inviting cross into the box with O’Hara’s diving header flying just wide.

Killie were still very much in the game and Scott Bain produced an outstanding reaction save in the 79th minute from a point-blank Greg Kiltie header to keep his side in front.

Bain came to the rescue again when he dived low to his right to keep out a Kris Boyd shot with Dundee holding on to secure a precious three points.

O’Dea praised the large travelling support for the backing they gave the team and he promised them that the players would not be resting on their laurels.

He said: “The manager was certainly keen that we enjoyed the support that we brought and the fact that they are there in incredible numbers and they are happy.

“That’s great but for me when you walk off the pitch it dies away quickly and it needs to do that. I feel at times when we have been at our best that’s when we hit the low patches so come Monday morning it’s back to work again.”

Killie thought they had put their own relegation fears to bed with last week’s win at Hamilton.

But defeat now leaves them just six points above Motherwell in 11th place with three games remaining.

Boss Lee McCulloch has promised to make changes to his line-up ahead of facing Inverness next week.

He said: “We’ll dust ourselves down and come back on Monday. This wasn’t because the players thought we were safe because we know we aren’t yet. The players have been told that every day at training.

“However, we gave away a horrendous goal when we lose a runner, allow a cross to come in and then don’t defend it well enough. But that had been coming from the first three minutes.

“Dundee more than deserved the three points and well done to Neil McCann for turning them round. We have three games left, starting with Inverness here next week, so we’ll go again.”