Morton man says pal McPake can turn tide

Jim McAlister is backing former team-mate James McPake to get Dundee back up challenging at the top end of the table after a sticky start to the season.

McAlister, who played alongside Dee boss McPake at Dens Park in the 2014-15 season, says he’s been surprised by his former club’s form in the early part of the campaign.

The now -Mor ton midfielder is backing his old pal to turn it around and get the Dark Blues back battling it out with the likes of Hearts and Dunfermline at the top of the Championship.

The 35-year-old said: “I’ ll admit, while I’ve been a bit surprised at Dundee’s start to the league, I’m also not that surprised they’ve gone to Alloa and struggled because a lot of teams will.

“It’s not an easy place to go.

“I’m surprised they dropped points late on against Raith, but there is a different kind of pressure on them compared to everyone else and the same probably goes for Hearts, too.

“There’s a different kind of pressure on them to get out of the league because they’ve been in the Premiership in recent years.

“Board members and obviously management, players and staff are desperate to get back up there and sometimes that pressure isn’ t easy to handle.

“Listen, James McPake has got a few new players in there.

“Once they bed in and realise what he wants from them, and he gets his structure in place, then I have no doubt they’ll be challenging up the top end of the table come the end of the season.”