The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mcpake – Fans must be worried by our late collapse.
Mcpake tells team they can forget about instant promotion with performances like this one
DUNDEE 1 PARTICK THISTLE 3
Angry Dundee boss James Mcpake admits Dundee can forget about going straight back up to the Premiership if they replicate Saturday’s sorry second half display against bottom side Partick Thistle.
Former Dark Blues striker Kenny Miller came back to haunt his former club as his 85th minute equaliser sparked a dramatic late Dens Park victory which was ultimately secured through further strikes from substitute duo Shea Gordon and Lewis Mansell.
Mcpake, whose side slipped to fifth after Queen of the South’s victory over City rivals Dundee United but are only three points off second-bottom Alloa, said: “If we’re going to perform like that, then we’ll get absolutely nothing from the season.
“It doesn’t matter what teams above us or around us are doing if we play like that in the second half. Their results just won’t matter.
“We had another great turnout from the fans. If I were one of them, I’d be frustrated as well.
“The way we folded with five minutes to go must be worrying for them as well.
“Now we have to pick a team which can go down to Ayr and handle it.
“It’s a really tough place to go to. They’ve shown that against teams who’ve gone down there.”
However, it all looked so promising when Declan Mcdaid’s through ball was perfect for Paul Mcgowan to run on to and he kept his head to roll a cultured finish past Thistle keeper Scott Fox.
But Miller, 39, took his tally to eight already this season as he swept home Ryan Williamson’s clever cut-back, before youngsters Gordon and Mansell went on to grab the glory in the dying minutes.
And the evergreen forward revealed how he fancied his chances of dumping Dundee, having left them back in the summer following the club’s relegation from the Premiership.
Miller said: “It’s always nice to get a goal. I was actually thinking of it coming up to Dens and I don’t think there’s too many ex-teams who I haven’t scored against.
“I backed myself to score. We’ve got good players and since the manager came in he’s had an impact on these players who, in turn, help me.
“When we were shooting down that Dens hill in the second half with a bit of momentum, it can be hard to stop.”
Miller also vehemently dismissed talk of a two-horse title race between Dundee
“If we are going to perform like that, then we’ll get absolutely nothing from the season. JAMES MCPAKE
and United – and insists the Jags can still mount their own quest for Championship glory.
And he is convinced Ian Mccall’s men can continue their recent resurgence by climbing off the foot of the table in the coming weeks, which sees them welcome Dick Campbell’s Arbroath to Firhill this weekend.
The ex-scotland star has described as “disrespectful” suggestions the battle for automatic promotion will boil down to a straight contest between Neilson’s United and Mcpake’s Dundee.
Miller said: “I would really disagree. I think it would be disrespectful to other teams in the league.
“I think Dundee United set a real pace. Listen, they’re a good team and have signed some good players.
“But so have we, so have Dundee and so have Ayr United. Inverness are always going to be there and thereabouts.
“I think Queen of the South are sitting fourth now after a couple of good wins against us and Dundee United.
“I certainly don’t think the gulf is maybe as big as what some people thought it would have been back at the start of the season.
“That’s Dundee United had a few poor results on the bounce now so it’s about bouncing back for them.
“But we’re focusing on ourselves.”