The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dark Blues’ injury worries piling up
DUNDEE: McCann facing striker crisis as Haber and El Bakhtaoui hobble off
Dundee could be facing the dire prospect of playing Hibs this weekend without a recognised first-choice striker.
The Dark Blues suffered their third straight Premiership defeat on Saturday against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
A Stevie May double secured all three points for the Dons in a 2-1 victory with the former St Johnstone striker’s stunning second goal coming when Dundee were down to nine men.
The Dark Blues’ front two of Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Marcus Haber had both been injured at the same time and had to be withdrawn with manager Neil McCann desperately trying to get substitutes on.
Before he could, May added insult to injury with his well-taken goal.
El Bakhtaoui had fallen to the turf clutching his hamstring while Haber appeared to have injured his thigh, with both looking to be in considerable pain as they hobbled to the sidelines.
McCann will now anxiously await news from his medical team on both with the manager already without front men Craig Wighton and Sofien Moussa, who have both undergone operations.
Meanwhile Roarie Deacon, who scored his side’s goal, insists that despite the poor start to the league campaign, no one in the squad has lost faith in what they are trying to achieve.
He said: “We believe and know that we should be in a better position.
“The gaffer believes in all of us and we believe in ourselves.
“We have all bought in to what the gaffer has brought to the team and to the club.”
Roarie Deacon admits the fact Dundee did not take at least a point from their game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday was a bitter pill to swallow.
The Dark Blues recovered from going behind to an early Stevie May goal to equalise through Deacon.
Neil McCann’s men had chances to take all three points but instead they were undone by another May strike, and are now without a point to their name after three Premiership fixtures.
However, Deacon insists Dundee’s self-belief remains strong and their luck will change soon.
The former Sutton United winger said: “Obviously, I am not happy with the result.
“I thought we did more than enough to get at least a point out of the game, if not three.
“The second half we did extremely well and frustrated them.
“We could hear that from their crowd moaning and groaning.
“Aberdeen tried to push the game, which probably benefited us as we won the ball back and created a few chances.
“Coming into the changing room afterwards was not good after losing the game.
“It is hard when you play well and don’t pick up at least a point.
“Obviously the last three results haven’t been up to standard.
“But you just have to come together as a team, believe in your team spirit, believe in the players you have in the dressing room and hopefully things will turn soon.
“I think it is just luck and I think it will definitely change soon.”
Dundee had the first big chance in the eighth minute. Mark Reynolds was short with a pass-back to keeper Joe Lewis, with James Vincent pouncing.
However, with reinforcements racing into the home box, the midfielder dithered and the golden opportunity was lost.
McInnes’s men took the lead just four minutes later.
Greg Tansey whipped in a corner from the left and May rose to head past Scott Bain from six yards for his first goal for the Dons since signing from Preston.
The Dark Blues had another big scare when Cammy Kerr made a defensive error, but Ryan Christie’s cheeky backheel was easily gathered by Bain.
Dundee were then denied by the woodwork in the 23rd minute when Deacon sent in a cross from the right and Marcus Haber hit the top of Lewis’s bar with a header.
Just eight minutes after the restart the Dark Blues came storming right back into the game. Christie gifted possession to Deacon, who raced into the Aberdeen box before hitting an angled shot that flew between Lewis’s legs and into the back of the net.
Dundee had a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead when Faissal El Bakhtaoui played the ball to Deacon on the right. His pinpoint cross found Scott Allan but the midfielder shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Former Dundee favourite Greg Stewart came off the Aberdeen bench and in the 74th minute he played fellow sub Nicky Maynard straight through on goal but Bain bravely dived at his feet to snuff out the danger.
Dundee’s resistance was finally broken in the 79th minute.
The Dark Blues were down to nine men at the time, with El Bakhtaoui and Haber off injured.
When they failed to clear their lines, May pounced to rocket a shot past the helpless Bain.
Deacon insisted that the harsh lessons of the game will be taken on board and the team will be going all out to try to break their duck against Hibs at Dens on Sunday.
He said: “It is positive that we are standing here talking about us coming to Aberdeen and taking three points or possibly a draw.
“But we have come in after the game saying we have to be a bit more streetwise.
“We were down to nine men with two off injured so we have to put the ball out of play.
“Obviously we didn’t and they scored a well-taken goal. It was a great strike by May.
“There were a lot of ifs and buts after the game but at the end of the day we have a loss against our name again.
“It is a bad result for us but we will go again next Sunday and try to get the three points at home.
“I don’t think we have to change too much.
“We are creating chances, we do well and work well together as a team.”
“I thought we did more than enough to get at least a point out of the game, if not three. ROARIE DEACON