Dark Blues boss calls for repeat showing

Dundee boss Neil McCann is looking for a repeat performance and result against St Johnstone today to finish the year on a high, writes Neil Robertson.

The last time the teams met back in September at Dens, the Dark Blues secured what was their first Premiership win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Tommy Wright’s side.

Now, McCann is hoping his side can do the double over Saints – who drew 1-1 against Ross County in midweek – in Perth before the top tier takes its midwinter break.

He said: “It would be a great ending to this year to go to McDiarmid and win.

“I have already watched their game against Ross County. They scored early and were then pegged back.

“I think they are really organised and structured under Tommy Wright.

“I think that’s why he has had so much success over the years at St Johnstone – the players all know their jobs.

“We know how difficult the game will be but we have already beaten them here at Dens.

“I thought we were excellent that day and I will expect the same type of performance.”

McCann is sweating over the fitness of key defender Josh Meekings for the Tayside derby after the centre-half had to limp off during the 2-0 defeat by Celtic at Dens on Boxing Day.

The 25-year-old was involved in a challenge with the Hoops’ Jonny Hayes who had to be stretchered off with what proved to be a broken leg.

McCann has though not ruled Meekings out of the Saints game.

He added: “Josh has an impact injury. It is not a muscle problem which would rule him out, so he will be given every opportunity to make it.

“He is still a bit sore so we will also take all precautions with him.

“It was such an impact and unfortunately the bad news is that Jonny Hayes has suffered a real bad one.

“I hate to see anyone leave the field on a stretcher but it was a full-blooded challenge.

“Josh has also taken a nasty one but he is a tough boy and hopefully he can make it.

“Roarie Deacon will miss out, though, and won’t be back until after the winter break.

“There are a few other wee bumps and bruises after the Celtic game.

“I clearly have decisions on the team that I have to make.

“I think the two previous performances before the Celtic game were very good.

“But you could see Celtic were on it the other day.”

McCann has preached the mantra of a patient build-up from his side this season but he did not rule out a change of tactics at McDiarmid.

He said: “We are a team that decided we would play out from the back.

“But we can’t roll into a game and think that is the only way we can play.

“You have to be prepared to mix it and I would say we are equipped to do that.

“The pitch there is quite a firm surface and there isn’t a great coverage of grass.

“But when I watched the footage from their game against Hearts last weekend it looked all right.

“Maybe if I go there tomorrow and I think it is not conducive to playing out from the back then I will just change it as with (Sofien) Moussa and Habes (Marcus Haber) at our disposal, if we want to go direct, we can.”

Dundee will also be without long-term injury victims James McPake, Craig Wighton and Lewis Spence.

Neil McCann: thought his team were ‘excellent’ in the 3-2 victory over Saints at Dens Park in September.