The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
How can Dundee and United get their seasons up and running?
With Dundee bottom of the Premiership and winless, Neil McCann hasn’t got the start to the season he was looking for. Dundee United’s league position is far more healthy but Tannadice regulars would suggest their fourth place doesn’t reflect a worrying ru
DUNDEE 1 At the risk of stating the blooming obvious … tighten up at the back.
The four goals Dundee conceded at Ibrox on Saturday means they have now let in 12 in five league games.
Young centre-halves Jack Hendry and Kerr Waddell have done well but experienced skipper Darren O’Dea should return for Saturday’s game against St Johnstone. I would even be tempted to move Kevin Holt forward into left midfield and bring Spaniard Jon Aurtenetxe in at left-back.
2 Stating the blooming obvious, the sequel … score more goals.
The Dark Blues have only hit the back of the net four times in five Premiership games so far. Manager Neil McCann has been hampered by injuries to his front men, with last season’s main striker Marcus Haber out long-term with a thigh injury.
Sofien Moussa was rushed back at Ibrox and will take some time to get up to pace once again after being out for just over a month. The Tunisian hit five goals in his first three games, albeit against lower league opposition, and McCann will be hoping he can rediscover that scoring touch.
Faissal El Bakhtaoui has netted some crackers in his time at Dens but overall he needs to show more composure to become a regular scorer at this level.
3 Find a way to get the best out of Scott Allan.
The midfielder was McCann’s first signing of the summer on loan from Celtic. At the time, it looked like a real coup, especially when taking into account what the former Dundee United player did during his time at Hibs.
However, Dundee fans are yet to see the very best from Allan and he was substituted before half-time at Ibrox on Saturday with his manager saying the player had a groin problem.
The bigger problem seems to be that Allan is being asked to play on the left while his natural inclination is to be in the middle dictating matters.
Dundee fans are yet to see the very best from Scott Allan
4 Get a win – any win.
McCann and his players insisted after the Rangers game that no one was hitting the panic button at Dens despite the poor start to the league campaign.
However, the longer the winless run continues, the pressure will surely start to mount. That can quickly become a vicious circle with players nervous and terrified of making a mistake.
So the sooner Dundee can get the monkey off their backs, the better. Third-placed St Johnstone are next up at Dens which looks a daunting prospect but Tommy Wright’s side are beatable. It is an old cliché but the Dark Blues really need to treat this Tayside derby like a cup final.
5 Secure some home comfort.
How often do we hear that other old cliché about turning a home venue into a “fortress”? Well, fortress Dens must be built on sand.
The last time the Dark Blues won a league game at the famous old ground was back in February against Rangers. McCann would no doubt point out that has no relevance to this season but there is no getting away from the fact that Dundee’s recent home record is poor.
Unless they can turn that around, it is certain to be a long, hard season once again.
DUNDEE UNITED 1 Lose the nerves.
The Tangerines got way too anxious way too early in the game against Dumbarton.
That resulted, too often, in mistakes being made and a lack of composure at times, both when trying to make passes and in front of goal.
Dundee United players should not be getting worried or nervous at any time at Tannadice, never mind early in the first half against a team of part-timers.
2 Go with two up front.
United did improve noticeably when striker Patrick N’Koyi came on at halftime for midfielder Sam Stanton to play alongside Scott McDonald.
He may not be a world-beater but N’Koyi still shook things up and, regardless of the pressure on them this season, United should feel able to go with two up front at home against sides like the Sons.
They could do with the experienced, cool head of Tam Scobbie back in the team
My feeling is manager Ray McKinnon would ideally like to go with a fit James Keatings and McDonald in a partnership, with N’Koyi as back up.
3 Get everyone match-fit.
There was probably only one real positive for United on Saturday and that was the sight of sub Keatings hammering home a free-kick to get the late equaliser.
McKinnon targeted the end of August to have all his players up and running but they aren’t there yet. Some key men still looked sluggish. Keatings should be a regular starter now that he is over his injury trouble.
They could also do with the experienced, cool head of Tam Scobbie back in the team but that will have to wait a few weeks yet.
4 A big result and performance would help.
Come on United, just go to Falkirk and win well.
What a boost it would be for everyone at the club if they could get an eyecatching victory away to the Bairns on Saturday.
It would be an even bigger boost if they could turn on the style in the process.
They have it in them but at the moment it is well hidden. They look stodgy and lacking in confidence.
A good win this weekend and they might even find themselves back at the top of the league again.
5 Appreciate they are lucky not to be further behind.
Speaking of the top of the table, United’s players should have a glance at the Championship and consider themselves extremely fortunate.
To have been as bad as they have been in their last three league games and still only be two points off the top is a considerable bonus.
They may not be playing like the title favourites they are still considered to be but they remain well in touch despite their poor form.
The gap can’t be allowed to grow, though, so it’s time for the players to wake up.