Disappointing day for Dens men

Dons display distant memory as Caley frustrate

Dundee may have fallen short of the performance levels they are looking to attain on a consistent basis when they faced Inverness but Kane Hemmings insists a high benchmark will be reached once more in the eagerly-anticipated derby on Friday night.

The striker was recalled to the starting line-up on Saturday after recovering from a niggling injury that caused him to miss the Betfred Cup tie with Aberdeen a week previously.

However the 28-year-old and the rest of his team-mates endured a frustrating afternoon as they struggled to carve out chances against John Robertson’s welldrilled Caley side.

All in all it was a game to forget and Hemmings has now switched his entire focus on to the derby at Tannadice.

The frontman said: “We will obviously recover and then put the work in this week to get ready.

“It is something we are all looking forward to. It is one of those games that it is a given performance and the tempo will be raised due to the importance of it. “I think it will take care of itself.” The Tangerines have already opened up a four-point gap on their neighbours but Hemmings dismissed any suggestion that was a concern even at this early stage of the campaign, saying: “We are only three games into the season and there are 33 left. If we win on Friday, we will only be a point behind them again.”

This is Hemmings’ second spell at Dens and during his first time at the club, he was known for his binocular-style goal celebration but he admits he cannot see it being resurrected and instead all he is concentrating on is breaking his duck.

He said: “Probably not. To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it.

“I just want to get over that hump and get that first goal. Whatever happens, happens after that.”

Inverness had the first chance of the afternoon in the ninth minute when Aaron Doran hit a curling 25-yard strike which Dundee goalie Jack Hamilton kept out with a diving save low to his left.

Caley keeper Mark Ridgers was tested in the 17th minute when he did well to save a Danny Johnson snap-shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Just after the half-hour mark, Paul McGowan tried his luck with a long-range effort but his shot flew over Ridgers’ bar.

The keeper then had to look lively to tip over a Declan McDaid free-kick before Hemmings had a chance just before halftime when he was played in by Shaun Byrne but the striker dragged his shot wide.

There was little for the fans of either side to get excited about in the early stages of the second half with chances notable by their absence.

It wasn’t until the 59th minute that there was an opportunity worthy of note when ICT striker Miles Storey had a clear shot at goal but he pulled his strike wide.

Ridgers then had to make a smart save from a Jordon Forster header 15 minutes later.

Dundee’s best chance of the half arrived in the 83rd minute. McDaid swung in a free-kick from the right with Hemmings rising highest, but the striker sent his header just over.

Inverness then had an opportunity of their own at a corner but Jamie McCart directed his header marginally wide, while sub Nikolay Todorov headed over in stoppage time.

Saturday’s game was played in sweltering heat and Hemmings admitted the conditions did take their toll.

He added: “The heat was draining. You do your work and you try not to let it affect you but it was warm out there.

“I think it took its toll on the pitch a little bit as well and it started to get sticky.

“You could see a few times when the ball went back to the keeper it was coming up a bit short, bobbling into people a bit.

“So, yes, the heat was a factor but we still needed to be a little bit better than we were as well.

“Inverness have players who when they win the ball back they are good, direct and they can run at people so credit to them, they came here with a game plan and in a sense it kind of paid off.

“They didn’t get the win but they caused us problems in the transition.”

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We are only three games into the season and there are 33 left. If we win on Friday, we will only be a point behind them again. KANE HEMMINGS

Pictures: SNS Group. Far left: New Dundee loan signing Josh McPake tries his luck at goal; left: Shaun Byrne wins the ball in midfield; above: Kane Hemmings is denied by Mark Ridgers.