The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dark Blues will be fearless: McGowan
Midfielder hails McCann’s ‘brave on the ball’ approach
Paul McGowan insists Dundee won’t give up their passing principles and will continue to be brave on the ball – even against the best team in the country.
The Dark Blues gave Celtic a real run for their money at Parkhead on Saturday and could count themselves unlucky not to take at least a point from the game.
Instead, they left the east end of Glasgow ruing some missed opportunities with the Hoops – who remain joint top of the Premiership with Aberdeen – extending their domestic dominance to an incredible 59 matches.
However, midfielder McGowan is adamant that Dundee manager Neil McCann will continue to encourage his players to have no fear.
The 30-year-old said: “To come to Celtic Park and play the way we did, I am proud, the gaffer’s proud and hopefully the fans who came through can go back and say we had a right go.
“You are expected to get beaten coming here.”
“No disrespect to any other teams but they are superior – you don’t go a full season without losing without being superior,” said McGowan.
“So why not come and have a go at them?
“The manager wants no fear. We will make mistakes, but who cares. He says he’ll take the flak, he’ll deal with it.
“That’s great for young boys coming through, having no fear and belief – you can see it in their play.
“They have to pass the ball and I’m big on that. We can also go long and mix it up if we are under pressure. Every manager has his own way. Our manager wants us to play this way and I’m delighted.”
Dundee’s Jack Hendry, who earned lavish praise for his performance from Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers, tipping him as a future Scotland cap, had to come off in the 70th minute of the game with a head wound suffered in a clash with Cristian Gamboa.
The Dark Blues defender needed five stitches in the cut but is expected to be fit for next weekend’s game at Partick Thistle.
McCann meanwhile took encouragement from his side’s positive performance.
He said: “I never enjoy defeat and I don’t think you can be happy with defeat.
“Generally at Celtic Park you see teams relieve the pressure by clearing it and it comes straight back at you.
“We worked on things and it was a bit risky at times playing from the back but if we are going to be better I have to trust them, that they can go to Celtic Park and do that, and that is the only way that they are going to get better.
“I was really proud of them.”