The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dark Blues have no room for error when league season starts, says Moussa
Tunisian forward makes up for howler with a stunning strike
A change of boots seemed to spark a change of luck for Sofien Moussa against Stirling, but the Dundee striker admits there will be no room for error when the Premiership kicks off next month.
The Tunisian grabbed a superb double but was guilty of a very early contender for miss of the season as the Dark Blues eventually enjoyed a stroll in the sun in their Betfred Cup opener.
The 30-year-old found himself in space barely six yards out but somehow managed to poke his shot wide of the target when it seemed easier to score.
He almost instantly changed his footwear and moments later speared in a sensational breakthrough goal as the Dens Park men’s dominance told against their League Two hosts six minutes from the interval.
However, having nodded in a second after half-time and laid on a debut goal for the impressive Jean Mendy, when he later admitted he could have been more selfish in search of a hat-trick, Moussa confessed he will have to be more clinical when the top-flight’s best provide the opposition.
He said: “Before I scored I missed one that should have been an easy goal.
“But I have experience now. I’m not young, I am 30 years old and I need to be focused all the time and I need to be positive.
“So, I missed the chance but I need to show big character and I bounced back and scored a good goal,” he added.
“I changed my boots after I missed the chance – and I scored after. But that wasn’t the reason I missed the chance. I don’t have a reason.
“But I need to be focused, because against a big team – maybe Celtic or Rangers – I may only get one chance and you need to score.
“So, I need to work, I need to work and I need to work.”
Moussa impressively brushed off his horrific miss to score a stunning opener. Taming a pinpoint Genseric Kusunga pass on his chest, he blasted in a brilliant volley from inside the area.
The tie was over when he powered in a header from Wighton’s excellent cross early in the second-half and Mendy’s low drive and a superb curling finish from the excellent Wighton, a welcome first goal in 17 months, finished off a good first day’s work.
It augurs well for the Dens Park side, who had Jack Hamilton, Elton Ngwatala, Nathan Ralph, Mendy and substitute Kharl Madianga all making their debuts.
Moussa added: “We have a big season this season. Now I know Scottish football and we have had a very good pre-season.
“So, I hope we can do well and achieve our objective, which is to get into the top six. That’s what the gaffer has said.”
While the team has been set collective targets, Moussa has his own.
The former Tromso marksman began last season with five goals in his opening three games in the Betfred Cup. However, he managed just another seven in the Premiership – and went all the way to April before managing his first league goal from open play.
He explained: “We have started very well and me, personally, I have objectives. I need to score more than last year and I need to do that by working hard.
“I can’t tell you how many goals I want to score but I have a target.”
Stirling provided stiff opposition until Moussa’s second goal knocked their stuffing out and the tie could have swung in a different direction had Hamilton not beaten out a Jason Marr header and Mark Stewart’s follow-up two minutes after half-time.
Binos boss Dave Mackay said: “There’s three divisions between us but the gulf didn’t look like that at times.”