The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

No one at Dens feeling low, insists Mccann

Boss also admits anger over lack of results has not lessened belief in Dark Blues squad

- Neil robertson nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk

Neil Mccann admits he is frustrated and angry with his side’s Premiershi­p results so far this season –but he still firmly believes his young Dundee squad are fully capable of turning things around.

The Dark Blues are currently propping up the league table without a win in five games.

They suffered a heavy defeat last Saturday against Rangers at Ibrox but Mccann insists no-one at Dens is feeling down and they are raring to go against St Johnstone at home tomorrow.

The manager said: “I know one point from five games is a disappoint­ing return but I am not concerned about the position we are in.

“It’s natural for people to get upset with results – I can understand that because I am angry with the results.

“I don’t mind that because we have taken just one point from 15 when it should be a lot more handsome. But I am not going to contradict myself by saying it’s panic stations because it’s a long season.

“There has been a lot of positivity, which comes from knowing we are doing the right things.

“What I’m seeing is the type of training I’m asking for. It has been repetitive and constant to get the message through.

“We have young guys in our squad but I believe in them and I believe they will get better over the next few months.

“When I look at the squad we have here and compare it to the rest of the league I am happy with it. We need to keep working on things, keep the players buying into things.

“The players are disappoint­ed, of course they are. When I came in here last season on the back of seven defeats you could see they were low.

“But nobody is low in there now. There are maybe players frustrated at not getting a game, but everyone is buying into what we want to do.”

There have been a few hard-luck stories so far for Dundee this season with performanc­es not being rewarded with the results they possibly deserved.

However, Mccann insists that means little and ultimately it is all about securing points not plaudits.

He said: “There have been a number of games we have played well and got nothing from it. But to be honest that’s irrelevant when you are not taking chances and letting in goals.

“This league is too good and too strong to think that’s good enough because there are a lot of good teams.

“The margins are very tight and there is a huge element of frustratio­n and anger when you don’t get decisions from officials.

“We all get passionate and angry on the sidelines because it is frustratin­g.

“You stand thinking, ‘There is another clear-cut chance gone, or why is someone not in that position when we worked on it during the week?’.

“But they are human and they are young, so that frustratio­n can’t be allowed to take over next week.”

 ?? PA. Picture: ?? Neil Mccann has seen his Dundee side pick up only one point from the first five league matches – but stressed there is no need for panic.
PA. Picture: Neil Mccann has seen his Dundee side pick up only one point from the first five league matches – but stressed there is no need for panic.

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