Moussa admits pressure was on to hit the goal trail

Dundee striker Sofien Moussa has revealed he told himself he was entering the last-chance saloon against Partick on Saturday and he simply had to hit the back of the net.

The big Tunisian had endured a barren spell in front of goal since scoring against St Johnstone on September 16.

However, the 29-year-old striker ended that drought against the Jags with two goals from the penalty spot in the 3-0 victory as Neil McCann’s side bounced back from the midweek defeat at Hearts to move four points clear of rock bottom Thistle and up to 10th in the Premiership table.

Moussa’s overall performance earned him the man-of-the-match award but when asked if he had been worried that he had gone so long without a goal, he said: “Of course it was a concern for me. Strikers need to score. It is my job.

“It’s too hard to go three months without a goal. I’ve not been lucky, I don’t know why. But I like the job of a striker. It’s a good job.

“I had pressure on me. Before the game I told myself it was my last chance.

“If I hadn’t scored would I be out of the team? You need to ask the manager that. But I told myself it was my last chance.

“I have a very good relationship with the gaffer. He knows I work hard and today I’m very happy to score.

“I was calm as I took my penalties. I needed to take responsibility.”

While Moussa made all the headlines, there were other stand-out performances from other Dundee players, notably from the other goalscorer, Mark O’Hara.

Motherwell have been linked with a January move for the midfielder but McCann insists he sees the 22-year-old playing a big part in Dundee’s future.

The manager said: “I spoke to Marko a wee while ago so he knows where I see him.

“He is going to be so important to me as I am trying to build something here and Marko is going to be a big part of that.”

Sofien Moussa celebrates his second with A-Jay Leitch-Smith.