The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Celtic deserved to win, says McCann
Boss has ‘no complaints’ with result
Dundee manager Neil McCann had “no complaints” about the result as his team were knocked out of the Betfred Cup by a rampant Celtic at Dens Park last night.
The Dark Blues fell to a 4-0 defeat at home to Brendan Rodgers’ side, who were in complete control of the quarter-final clash.
A penalty from Scott Sinclair opened the scoring for the visitors on 25 minutes and James Forrest made it 2-0 at the break.
Substitute Callum McGregor added a third with three minutes to go and Forrest grabbed his second and the Hoops’ fourth in injury-time.
McCann said: “I have no complaints.”
“I think Celtic were worthy winners and I’m not going to say that they were not.
“I do have a complaint about the third goal because we should have had a free-kick.
“I did think the first goal was a penalty and there was contact, although I’d like to see it again.
“Up until that point I felt we were containing Celtic and they weren’t opening us up too much.
“On the whole, though, I can have no complaints about the result.”
Dundee did have a couple of good chances, with Faissal El Bakhtaoui and A-Jay Leitch Smith both failing to convert.
McCann added: “Listen, I don’t sit here and enjoy a defeat but we can take positives from the match.
“I now have a lot to work on from a coach’s point of view.
“I think there was a remarkable workrate put in by my players against a top-class Celtic side.
“They didn’t rest too many players for the Old Firm game and I think that showed good respect to my side.
“I don’t think it was a 4-0 and it flattered Celtic a bit with the goals towards the end.
“We were taking big risks at that point.
“I am pleased with the effort from the guys and the fact that they stuck at it.”
Meanwhile, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers felt his side enjoyed a comfortable night.
He said: “It was very good and very professional.
“We played with a nice calmness in the game.
“We had to be patient but once we got the first goal that created confidence and we passed the ball very well and scored some very good goals.
“It is a mark of the team that we kept going for it and were always hungry to get on the ball.
“All round, the team played very well, played with a professional attitude and kept a clean sheet.”