Must-win match for McCann, says Rab

DUNDEE: Dee legend sees ‘no hiding place’ for boss

Rab Douglas fears that defeat to Hibs will be “curtains” for former Dee-fiant team-mate Neil McCann as manager of Dundee.

The Dens Park legend believes that there would be “no hiding place” for McCann if six successive losses becomes seven on Saturday.

In Douglas’s Courier column, he says: “If Dundee lose to Hibs then it could be curtains for Neil McCann.

“I say that with regret because no one would be more delighted than me should the players go out and get their first league victory on Saturday,” he said.

“It is a must-win match in my view. “What happens in football is that, eventually, you get into trouble if you don’t get results. It really is that simple.

“Dundee find themselves going into this fixture on the back of six successive defeats so there is no hiding place for Neil now, unfortunately.”

If Dundee lose to Hibs then it could be curtains for Neil McCann. I say that with regret because no one would be more delighted than me should the players go out and get their first league victory on Saturday. It is a must-win match in my view. What happens in football is that, eventually, you get into trouble if you don’t get results. It really is that simple.

Put points on the board and life is great. Lose week in, week out then the pressure grows and grows.

Dundee find themselves going into this fixture on the back of six successive defeats so there is no hiding place for Neil now, unfortunately.

Maybe it is time to really consider changing the whole approach to games.

By that I mean prioritising scrapping for everything over trying to play nice football. It is all about winning this game and every player should know they must give 100% effort against Hibs. Nothing else is acceptable.

It is also up to the players to give the fans something to cheer about rather than just expect them to get behind them from kick-off.

I have been extremely lucky over the years in that I have maintained an excellent relationship with the Dundee supporters. That is something I hold very dear, and the Dee-fiant era was a very special time indeed.

They need a cause to fight for, though, so it is up to those on the park to give supporters a reason to get behind them other than just their undoubted loyalty to the club.

Expensive rejection

Signing Kenny Miller gave everyone at Dundee a boost but now they will be without him for the next two games against Hibs and Hamilton Accies.

I wasn’t surprised to hear that his red card appeal was rejected because the SFA tend to back their referees in cases like this.

The club lost a few quid in the process, too, and I think having to pay to lodge the appeal is a nonsense.

There should be no need for a fee in the first place but if there has to be then I would hope the money for unsuccessful bids goes to charity.

“There is no hiding place for Neil now

Strange fight

Hearts boss Craig Levein is entitled to his opinions and he isn’t reluctant to give straight answers to any questions.

However, I did find it strange that he felt the need to comment on how Dundee United, one of his former clubs, handled Hearts and Scotland defender John Souttar when he was at Tannadice.

I can’t get my head around why he would want to pick that particular fight.

Picture: SNS. Neil McCann needs a result against Hibs.