The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee’s set-piece woes prove costly
Kenny Miller’s apology to fans for shocking display
LIVINGSTON 4 DUNDEE 0
There isn’t much Kenny Miller hasn’t seen in a 20-year career as a professional footballer.
But being part of a team that had four set-piece goals put past them in one game was a first. A very ugly first.
There can be times when putting your finger on what went wrong can be a complicated business.
Dundee losing 4-0 at Livingston certainly couldn’t be put into that category.
“I think I can speak for everybody in the dressing when I apologise to the fans for the performance,” said the Dark Blues skipper on a dark day for the club.
“It was absolutely unacceptable – to come to a place like this and not stand up to the battle.
“You’re never going to win any game of football at any level if you can’t deal with the basics of set-plays.
“They’re the part of the game that you know are going to happen and you can prepare for. Every team has their same traits in set-plays. But if you’re not going to head that ball and put your body on the line then you’re going to toil – particularly against that team.
“We knew the threat, we worked on it but to allow four set-play goals... I’ve never seen that before. I think there was a fifth when (Alan) Lithgow got another header that went just wide. That was another first contact in the box to add to the list.”
Teams have been bullied and outworked by a Livingston side renowned for their physicality but Miller didn’t believe Dundee fell short in that regard.
“In open play we stood up to them,” he explained. “There was nothing in the game. The boys at the back headed it away. We actually had one opportunity of our own from a set-play and didn’t take it.
“It comes down to individual decisions. I wouldn’t even call it errors because it’s not been real mistakes – it’s just been that they wanted it more.
“I know Livingston very well and they have two or three players who are exceptional at attacking the ball at setplays for and against. They’re very, very aggressive – as aggressive as I’ve seen in any team.”
Two of the goals came in the first half – Declan Gallagher and then Craig Halkett scoring with headers from freekicks. The third after the break was a Steven Lawless in-swinger that Alan Lithgow went to head and missed, with the cross ending up a goal. Finally, in the last minute, Lithgow got his reward with a back post header.
Miller added: “The manager is big on set-plays so I’m sure he’ll be hurting off the back of that as well.
“There are no excuses. We were wellbeaten on the day but we have to take a lesson from it.
“We need the fight and togetherness in our game that Livingston have.“
Jim McIntyre was calm and composed in his post-match assessment.
His take was similar to his captain’s as far as the goals were concerned but he was also disappointed at the failure of his team to lay a glove on Livi when they were chasing the game.
“The reaction second half needs to be far, far better,” said the Dens boss. “We didn’t create enough and when you lose that third goal it just drains confidence.”
McIntyre stressed that the match wasn’t a total write-off.
“The positives were in the first half,” he said.
“For a 10-15 minute spell we were on the front foot, we were creating. The final ball at times was just lacking.
“I thought young Calvin Miller was excellent, he was our best player.
“In the main the two centre-backs in open play did well. But we need to make sure we defend better at set-plays.”
Meanwhile, Livingston midfielder Shaun Byrne felt his team dealt well with matching up against a highly-motivated opponent.
“Before the game we knew that they would come out fighting,” said the ex-Dunfermline man. “That always happens – boys want to impress.
“Jim McIntyre gave me my first professional contract at Dunfermline, but I never played under him. He actually told the gaffer (Gary Holt) that he thinks one of the mistakes he made was not playing me!
“But he was the one who gave me a professional deal and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.”
You’re never going to win any game of football at any level if you can’t deal with the basics of set-plays. KENNY MILLER