The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Allan stresses need to build on wonderful win over Gers
Dundee must not let the wonderful win over Rangers stand in isolation.
That was the clear message from playmaker Scott Allan as the dust settled on the Dark Blues’ dramatic 2-1 victory at Dens Park that lifted them off the bottom of the Premiership.
Mark O’Hara was the goal hero with his double but plenty of praise came Allan’s way, too, for his clever pass through to his teammate for the winner with just 10 minutes left on the clock.
Allan had only been off the bench for a couple of minutes as he continued a comeback that started the previous weekend against Kilmarnock.
Before that he had been sidelined since September 23 because of a groin injury but signalled that he is getting back to his best with his crucial intervention on Friday night.
Asked if the result will help kick-start a hitherto lacklustre season, Allan replied: “Yeah, without a doubt.
“We don’t want to be near the bottom of the league, obviously, because we think we have a good enough squad to be up there in the top six, I would say.
“This result is something to build on now. We need to go and get a result next weekend now (away to Ross County).
“We do need to build on it, though, because it can’t be a case of ‘Oh, it’s a win against Rangers’ and then we don’t win our other matches.
“I was delighted, mainly for the manager and his assistant but also for all the boys because I think there have been some great performances without the wins. So it’s been up and down but we need some momentum now.”
Allan showed excellent vision to pick out O’Hara but he also praised his colleague for timing his run perfectly.
“That is my best position, playing behind the strikers,” he said.
“It enables you to make chances for people and big Mark O’Hara was playing so high up the park and showed endeavour to get on the end of the pass. If he hadn’t made the run then I couldn’t have played the pass.
“He still had to put it away and the big man showed a lot of composure.”
Allan, who is on a season-long loan from Celtic, was back with a bang and certainly enjoyed exacting some revenge on the Rangers fans who jeered him when he came on.
He said: “I was just happy to be back. It has been a frustrating couple of months, obviously. Previous to the operation I wasn’t playing like myself.
“I thought I had started the season well so was a bit disappointed not to have kicked on. I got the groin operation but I am happy that I got it sorted.
“I am fighting fit now. It was great to get back on the park and to get the win against Rangers is a bonus so I’m happy with that.”
As for the stick from the away supporters, Allan is philosophical about it all.
He said: “It’s part and parcel of everyday life. Even when I am out and about in Glasgow I still get pelters. It was nothing I wasn’t expecting.
“So I was absolutely delighted, two minutes later, to give my reaction.
“The hassle is part of football and you learn to live with it. It’s fine. Should it be part of football? It is in this country, so it is what it is.
“I don’t know if it motivates me but it gives you a more enjoyable reaction when you win after it. For me, I’m just happy to be back fit helping the boys to a win.’
Allan is now desperate to stay in manager Neil McCann’s plans for what he hopes will be a climb up the table.
“I need to start playing consistently well again,” he said.
“I am just happy to be over injuries and getting back to showing people what I can do. I have learned a lot from the mistakes I made in the past and I have a different mindset now.
‘Every manager has different methods and I just want to buy into everything in the hope something turns for me on the park.
“I made mistakes when I was younger. I didn’t listen at times when I was 19, 20 or 21. It didn’t work out in England and I had to come back.
“Alan Stubbs was really good for me at Hibs and I went to Celtic where I worked really hard. It hasn’t worked out at this present moment, so for me it’s about working under a new manager and getting some momentum and playing week in, week out.”