Cup tie no free hit for Dundee, says McCann

Attention turns to league business after cup exit

Dundee boss Neil McCann dismissed any suggestion that Wednesday night’s Betfred Cup tie against all-conquering Celtic was a “free hit” for his side.

The Hoops progressed to the semifinals of the competition thanks to a 4-0 win at Dens.

Celtic started the game as big favourites but McCann defiantly insisted that if anyone at Dundee had treated the tie as one where they simply had nothing to lose, then there was little chance of progress being made at the club.

Now, though he has turned his attention to league business and tomorrow’s game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park with the Dark Blues looking to make it back-to-back Premiership victories following last week’s win over St Johnstone.

McCann said: “I judge my team and myself on Wednesday night’s game as well. I think it is disrespectful to say Wednesday was a free hit. It is not a free hit to get to the semi-final of a cup.

“If this club continues to take that view, it is just a free hit, then we will not move forward.

“Kilmarnock is a huge game for us now because it is the next opportunity to take three points and to build on last Saturday’s win.”

It is incredibly tight at the foot of the Premiership table as shown by the fact that Dundee’s win over Saints took them up to ninth place after being at the bottom.

Now, McCann is looking for his side to go to Rugby Park and impose themselves on the opposition once more.

He said: “You can see with one win it changes the outlook of the table. It makes it look a little nicer rather than sitting at the foot of it.

“Kilmarnock will also be looking to build on their draw at Aberdeen. They will view it if they get a win then that will propel them.

“I think we need to apply ourselves like we did against Celtic and don’t disrespect Kilmarnock to say they are a weaker opposition.

“Of course, individually they are weaker but Lee (Killie boss McCulloch) has got his team well-structured like ourselves.

“If we go out with the same determination and desire, then we have a great chance of taking the three points.

“It (Rugby Park) is a difficult ground because again it has an artificial surface and it does change the game. It changes how the ball moves and how you want to play, but it isn’t really about Kilmarnock – it is up to us to go and impose ourselves.

“Whether we are home or away, you can take Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen, the top sides in recent years, but all the other teams would concede there isn’t a great deal between us. We go down there and it is about us.”

Randy Wolters took a blow to the throat against Celtic but has recovered. However, McCann revealed that striker Sofien Moussa, who missed the game with a knee problem, is still being monitored.

He added: “We are still assessing Moussa. He is still in a little discomfort. It isn’t anything to do with his last operation.

“I don’t know if he has taken a bump or a knock but there is some inflammation in there. We will assess him again today.”

“If this club continues to take that view, it is just a free hit, then we will not move forward. NEIL MCCANN

Picture: SNS Group. Neil McCann and assistant Graham Gartland urge Dundee on against Celtic.