McPake out to plug leaks

James McPake has vowed Dundee will shut the back door for their crucial Championship run-in. The Dark Blues haven’t failed to score in a match since November – but they have struggled to keep things tight in defence, conceding 32 goals in 17 games.

Their difficulties at the back have cost them crucial points and the manager insists the Dark Blues are working hard on finding the defensive steel needed to help them realise their promotion dream this season.

Of their defeat to league leaders Hearts, McPake said: “At the first goal we allowed the cross into the box far too easily and Andy Halliday has a free header six yards out, which is disappointing.

“At the second goal, Gary Mackay-Steven gets a bit lucky with the bounce of the ball, but, to be fair to him, he plays a decent cross in that takes our defenders out.

“Jack Hamilton makes a great save, but then gets really unlucky as the ball comes back off him and the Hearts player knows nothing about it and it ends up in the back of our net.

“How do we fix it? We work extremely hard on the training ground putting on drills.

“Yes, we are conceding goals and that was another two on Saturday, but we are working very hard to prevent these.

“We are creating enough chances in any game. I don’t think anyone could have complained if we had scored three or four goals on Saturday – but we do need to tighten up at the back.”

McPake’s assistant Dave Mackay was also a top defender in his day and the management team, along with the rest of the coaching staff, are leaving no stone unturned as they attempt to reduce the amount of goals being conceded.

McPake added: “We are working hard and it is not just me and Dave, it is the other coaches here.

“Bobby Geddes has played at a really high level as has Scott Robertson.

“We also have staff watching games, trying to pick out those wee bits, those fine margins, nuggets from parts of the game that can help us on a Saturday.

“It is all right picking it out and putting the sessions on, but you have to implement it in the game and that’s where we are struggling.

“We are working on it in training and looking good, but we are falling that wee bit short on match day.

“What we can guarantee is that we will continue to keep working on it and we will get it right.

“There are a bunch of players here who are determined to get it right and give this club the best chance they can to get out of this league.”

Meanwhile, Dark Blues youngster Callum Moore has joined League One Forfar Athletic for the rest of the season.

The Loons are gearing up for their campaign restarting on March 20 and have moved to add the 20-year-old to their squad.

After breaking his foot at the start of the campaign, Moore made his first start for the Dark Blues in a 3-1 loss at Raith Rovers in January.

That was his ninth appearance for Dundee, having made his senior debut in the Premiership under Jim McIntyre in 2019.

He enjoyed a loan spell at Stenhousemuir last term – playing eight times and scoring once – and is looking to gain more firstteam experience at Station Park.

Stuart Malcolm’s Forfar have struggled this season and currently prop up the League One table.

They have picked up just six points from their 10 games this season and lie three points adrift at the bottom.

Moore is the second Dundee player to head to Forfar this term after defender Sam Fisher played nine times for the Loons in a loan spell at the start of the campaign.

The Angus side have now added six players to their squad this calendar year.