The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Meekings up for physical Well battle
DUNDEE: Dark Blues keen to ‘make a point’ against cup finalists
Dundee’s Josh Meekings insists he will relish the physical battle when Motherwell come calling at Dens tonight.
The Steelmen will arrive in buoyant frame of mind after beating Rangers on Sunday at Hampden in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup.
It was a fiery, bruising encounter that also saw the respective managers being sent to the stands as emotions boiled over.
Meekings expects more of the same from Motherwell this evening but the centre-half will meet fire with fire as the Dark Blues look to bounce back strongly after Saturday’s disappointing defeat against Partick Thistle at Firhill.
The 25-year-old said: “I think Motherwell were very good against Rangers.
“They showed they are a big, strong, physical side. They were going to try everything to win the game.”
“They showed what they are good at. They seem to have a good team spirit but I believe we have enough in our dressing room to overcome that,” said Meekings.
“Listen, I don’t mind the physical side of it – it is a part of my game as well.
“They are coming to Dens and we have to make it a fortress, a hard place to come to and that’s what we will be aiming to do.
“They will bring their physicality so we will have to match that and then try to outplay them on the football side of things. I think if you look across our dressing room there are enough boys in there who can look after themselves. “We will take care of it on the night.” When asked if he felt Dundee could take advantage of any Motherwell cup hangover, Meekings replied: “I don’t really want to think about what they are feeling after the semi-final.
“We have come out of a game at the weekend where we felt we should have got something better so we just want to look at ourselves and making sure we are ready to go. I believe that if we do what we can on the night, then we will prove a point and put our stamp on the game.
“Motherwell will come here on the back of a good result and they will probably be positive. There will be good vibes throughout their camp but I think we have enough in the dressing room to change that.”
Motherwell made it through to the Betfred Cup final thanks to two goals from Louis Moult, a striker Meekings knows well.
The former Inverness defender said: “I have played against him plenty of times.
“Everyone has seen how good a player he is. His goals at the weekend, one was a poacher’s finish and the other was a great strike. He has come on a lot and his goalscoring record speaks for itself recently.
“He is a great player and that is something we will have to look at stopping. If we can do that, then hopefully we can get the three points.”
Dundee – who hope to have Paul McGowan in their squad – are doubly determined after coming away