The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mccann upbeat ahead of Jags trip DUNDEE: Dark Blues urged to build on Celtic Park performance
Neil Mccann believes that if his Dundee players can cause Celtic problems at Parkhead they can travel to any ground brimming with confidence.
The Dark Blues may have lost 1-0 at Celtic Park last Saturday and still be in search of their first away win in the league, but they left the home of the Hoops with praise ringing in their ears, not least from opposition boss Brendan Rodgers.
Next up they travel back to Glasgow to face Partick Thistle, the side who occupy the opposite end of the table to the champions.
No one at Dens is expecting the Jags match to be a walk in the park but, having performed so well last weekend, Mccann sees no reason why they can’t be full of optimism tomorrow.
He said: “You are right to say that we got a lot of good plaudits from Saturday’s game and if we can do it at Celtic Park then I can ask them to do it anywhere. “I didn’t have a failure in the team. “I felt we operated very well and probably forced Celtic to kick it more times than they have probably done in a long time in Scotland.
“So if I do make changes for the Partick game then it will be from the fortunate position of being able to do so in order to match up with each opponent.
“We are on a good run of form but the most important thing is being on the right track as regards what we believe is the right way to go about things.
“I have used the word ‘bravery’ a number of times now in the last month or so, whether it be pre- or post-game.
“We want to play certain way and that does not just mean having blind faith in that when you are under horrible pressure.
“But being able to cope under pressure and still play out from the back stands us in good stead in terms of being comfortable on the ball.
“We just felt that we were in a position where we wanted to go and try something at Parkhead and I felt for the majority of the game, barring the first 15 minutes when Celtic are always going to come at you, that we were pretty comfortable.”
Such is the feelgood factor at Dens following that spirited performance last weekend, Mccann feels his team are serious top-six contenders.
“Without coming out and shouting it from the rooftops, of course we want to be in the top six,” he added.
“There is nothing wrong with saying that – it’s not being arrogant or disrespectful.
“With the squad that we have and what we are trying to achieve, I am looking to be in that top six. Clearly Partick Thistle stand in our way of getting what would be a right good three points.
“Also, something we have to look at is our away form. But the way we are playing now will hopefully allow us to go and impose ourselves on games.”
Nevertheless he is expecting a tough afternoon against the Jags, who have yet to record their first league win of the season.
“We will go there expecting a really tough game. Partick have too many players for that to not be the case,” said Mccann.
“You will never see anybody at this club thinking it will be an easy match. I don’t see the Thistle players coming out and giving anything less than 100%.”