The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Players urged to prove win at Accies was not a one-off
McCann says challenge is to build on performance with a victory at home
Dundee boss Neil McCann has challenged his players to show that last Saturday’s vital victory at Hamilton was not just a one-off and instead signals the start of sustained success.
The Dark Blues removed a very large primate from their back with that 2-0 win over Accies to finally register their first points of the season.
Now, the manager is determined to give the home fans something to cheer about with another victory, this time at Dens against Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock.
McCann said: “We are always capable of winning a game and have looked capable of winning a game but we haven’t done that until last weekend.
“So the next challenge is to win the next one and build on what has been a really good result and performance last week.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a bigger test but I think Kilmarnock are a really top side under Steve. I think everybody knows what they’re doing, they’ve been really good and really solid.
“They are hard to break down and they’ve got a goal threat, so I know it’s going to be a really tough game against them.
“Last season I thought we played well against them without getting what I felt we really deserved at times.
“That’s just testament to how they play – they keep going.”
Kilmarnock have added another dimension to their play this season in the shape of former Dundee favourite Greg Stewart.
The frontman is on fire at the moment and scored another cracker last week against Motherwell.
McCann said: “Greg is just a really talented boy.
“He is probably playing in arguably his best position I would say.
“I know he has been used in wide areas coming on to that really nice left foot of his.
“But I remember him at Cowdenbeath with him and Kane Hemmings up top.
“In fact I saw one of his first games against St Johnstone when I had left Falkirk and he was a kid then playing off the front.
“I would say that’s Greg’s best position and they have added quality there.
“Kilmarnock look like they are enjoying their football just now.
“I think under Steve they have shown they will go right to the end so that’s something we have to respect.
“So it is up to us. We have had a really good week.”
Of course, that feelgood factor was in large part down to the win last Saturday, with McCann delighted his players and staff had finally received the rewards their hard work deserved.
He added: “It was just great to go home with a smile on my face.
“The boys had got what you felt their hard work deserved and it was great to send all those fans who came to Hamilton away home happy.
“You work hard as a coaching staff all week so to share in it was good.
“But my overriding emotion was delight because I know how hard the boys have worked.
“They have always worked hard in training and sometimes when you don’t get the results, people overlook how hard the boys have been working.
“But Graham (Gartland), myself and Rab (Geddes), everyone connected with the staff, know how hard they have been working.”
The only dampener this week is that there is no sign of Dundee’s injury woes abating.
The likes of Josh Meekings, Genseric
Kusunga, Nathan Ralph and Sofien Moussa all missed the game at Hamilton and others have now joined them in the treatment room.
McCann added: “I have to admit we don’t have a great deal of bodies back.
“Kenny Miller is back in after his suspension but we probably have one or two other injury worries on top of the ones from last weekend.
“So we don’t have our problems to seek in terms of numbers but what we have got is a dressing-room that has been bouncing all week on the back of a good result – it has been great.”
Killie will be hoping former Dundee frontman Stewart continues his hot streak against his old side.
The 28-year-old won a move to Birmingham in the summer of 2016 but failed to make an impact at St Andrews and endured another difficult season on loan at Aberdeen last term.
However, he has hit the ground running after making another temporary switch to Kilmarnock and manager Steve Clarke says his tally of three goals from his first four starts is proof Stewart is almost back to his best.
He said: “Greg has been a little bit frustrated with his time down at Birmingham. He didn’t quite get the opportunities that certainly his talents deserve but sometimes that happens in football.
“He came back up to Aberdeen last year and was involved a lot but didn’t quite hit the heights he was hoping for.
“However, he’s come in here very determined to get his career back on track and at the moment we are reaping the benefits of that.”
Clarke also insists the pressure remains on McCann and Dundee despite the win at Hamilton last week.
“It was obviously big for them last weekend to get their first win of the season,” he said. “I’m sure they have had a decent week in training and feel better about themselves. They will approach the game positively.
“Neil has got a lot of talented players there and they play good football. It will be a difficult challenge for us.
“But it’s still only their first win, so the pressure is still on them. They have to try to back it up, they have to try to win again.
“So there is still pressure there. They haven’t won at home and we go there in reasonable form looking to continue a half-decent run, so it should be a decent game.”