It’s time to string wins together, says McPake

DUNDEE: Boss anxious to build on win over Arbroath and get team’s first successive victories

Dundee boss James McPake is determined his team will finally remove a large monkey from their backs and win successive matches for the first time this season.

The Dark Blues secured victory in their last game before the international break, beating Arbroath 2-0 at Dens.

Now the Dundee manager is looking for his refreshed squad to pick up where they left off when they face Partick Thistle at the same venue on Saturday.

McPake said: “I think at home we have been looking to kick on.

“Being back here is important as we haven’t won two games in a row this season which isn’t great for a club like us.

“So we need to get that monkey off our back, so to speak.

“We need to start putting runs together – I have said that from the start.

“Again, I cannot complain about my squad so it is time to start turning the dominant performances into results.

“It is all fine saying we should have done this or that but it is time now to get away from that.

“It is a tough league – we know that – but we need to kick on.”

The Dundee players have had some time off since the win over the Red Lichties but there has been plenty of hard work put in on the training pitch with the squad also playing a behindclosed-doors friendly against League 1 Forfar last Thursday.

McPake admitted the international break came at exactly the right time for his team.

He added: “It was good. Some managers might say it doesn’t come at a great time especially after a win but I felt it did for us.

“It sounds a bit weird but I probably would have said the same if we had lost the Arbroath game.

“For what we needed – getting Josh Meekings some more game time, Graham Dorrans up to speed in training as well as some of the other ones, like Andy Nelson and Danny Johnston who haven’t had many minutes over the last month or so – it was a good chance to top them up.

“Plus, it allowed us to get a couple of knocks sorted over that wee break.

“So yes, the friendly was worthwhile but the whole week was really good.”

McPake will have almost a full squad to choose from apart from Jamie Ness who will not be risked after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with bone bruising in his ankle.

The manager said: “Jamie is good and has done a lot of work but the Partick game will come too early for him.

“It is great to have him back in amongst the boys as it has been a frustrating time for him.

“We need him right, though.” Shaun Byrne and Jordan Marshall, who picked up knocks against Arbroath, have both made full recoveries.

We need to get that monkey off our back, so to speak. JAMES MCPAKE

SNS. James McPake has become frustrated at being unable to win more than a game at a time.