McPake puts team on red alert

Dundee boss James McPake insists he is wary of a backlash from the Dons at Dens tomorrow as Aberdeen bid to end a three-game losing streak, writes Neil Robertson.

Derek McInnes’s side were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday night, losing to Croatian outfit Rijeka, with the two legs of that tie sandwiching a Premiership defeat to St Mirren.

McPake, though, believes those results will have no bearing on tomorrow’s contest with the Dundee manager certain his team are in for the toughest test of their season so far.

He said: “Nothing has changed because Aberdeen have lost a few games.

“Derek always puts such a focus on the cup. He’s had good success in this cup and has been unlucky in the Scottish Cup.

“What has happened over the last couple of weeks has no bearing at all on what’s coming down to Dens Park on Sunday.

“We will have to turn it into a cup tie, we will have a good crowd behind us and we have to give them a reason to get behind us.”

McPake added: “There is a gulf between the Premiership and the Championship, we know that, but we believe we have added quality to the side this summer.

“We have had a decent start, the players have confidence and that always helps.

“But we are not getting carried away. Aberdeen will be the best team we have played so far.

“I have a lot of respect for Derek and Tony (assistant boss Docherty). I like the way they work and they will have Aberdeen ready to bounce back.

“We have had to deal with teams sitting in against us, but that won’t be the case on Sunday.”

Dundee boss James McPake is wary of an Aberdeen backlash.