McCann eyeing derby springboard to final

Boss sees victory over rivals as just another step towards an appearance at Hampden

Dundee boss Neil McCann is hoping his new-look squad will take a big step towards Hampden when they play Dundee United tomorrow night in the Betfred Cup.

The Dark Blues are looking to bounce back strongly after two setbacks at home with Saturday’s disappointing openingday Premiership loss to Ross County coming hot on the heels of the defeat on penalties to the Tangerines in the cup group stages.

Ray McKinnon’s men will make the short return trip up the road to Dens in buoyant mood after another win at the weekend against Inverness in the Highlands as they kicked off their Championship campaign.

However, McCann is determined his players will secure bragging rights and edge closer to the final at the national stadium.

He said last night: “We went through some stuff and training and video analysis today which was good.

“I was disappointed at the weekend but we had six new players in the side against a very experienced team in Ross County.

“There were elements in our play that we have worked on which will hopefully make us better against Dundee United.

“That is what you have to work on as a coaching staff and management.

“We have to look where we went wrong and we have to address it.”

He added: “I have played in all the big derbies in Scotland and I think if you do well in them then the fans revere you.

“It is about winning games and this will get Dundee closer to a cup final – that is how we are looking at it.

“The rewards will come with beating our greatest rivals from across the street.

“There were lots of positives from the way we played against United in the first game but there are lots of improvements to come.

“The new boys have had a taste of the derby and sampled the atmosphere – it is not new now. That is good.

“We expect United to be stronger and they will come here with belief after getting a good result at Inverness.

“It is up to us to impose ourselves in the whole match.

“I know there was frustration from the fans (after Ross County) and I am as disappointed as they are as I wanted to start the Premiership campaign with a win.

“But I am not getting too downbeat about things.”

Although the results were not what the manager wanted against United and the Staggies, McCann did take heart from the way his players ended the games.

He said: “I mentioned the fact that we finished strongly in both our last two matches to the players.

“That is a tough quality to get into a side as teams can go under.

“We lost a late goal against Raith but we didn’t accept it and went down the park and got the winner.

“We were a width of the post from winning the United game as we were forcing the issue.

“Then in the Ross County game we lost our focal point in (Sofien) Moussa and they are a physical side.

“We were unlucky not to snatch something from the game.

“That tells me there is a wee bit of grit about us regardless if we are not playing well.

“There is a finishing edge and we do not give up which is really pleasing.”

There were elements in our play that wehave worked on which will hopefully make us better against Dundee United. NEIL MCCANN

Picture: SNS Group. Neil McCann: pleased by the strong finishes the Dark Blues have put in in their last two games.