McPake demanding improvements after crisis meeting over defending

Dundee boss James McPake has held a crisis meeting with his squad over the defensive problems that have seen the club concede 13 goals in their last three away games.

At home, the Dark Blues have only let in one goal in three matches but heading to A yr United in the Championship on Saturday, the Dens gaffer is determined to get things right at the back at Somerset Park.

After kicking off the campaign with a dreadful 6-2 hammering at the home of Hearts, more poor defending cost points in a 3-3 draw at Alloa before a six-minute spell at Hibs saw Dundee concede three times and lose out 4-1 in the Betfred Cup.

Mc Pa k e has had to employ full-back Cammy Kerr as an emergenc y centre-half due to an injury to Jordon Forster and positive Covid test for Lee Ashcroft. He is also considering a move for former Hibs and Ross County defender Liam Fontaine, who is currently on trial.

But the manager insists it is the basics of defending Dundee need to sharpen up on as a team, starting with the visit to the Honest Men.

“The defending for the goals has been disappointing,” McPake said.

“It is basic defensive errors we are making. But the good thing is we can work on that.

“We’ve had a meeting over the last couple of days with the players and they know that themselves.

“It is something we need to put right quickly because we can’t be conceding the goals we are conceding.

“We have been more of a threat going forward this season which, considering we’ve been missing three strikers, has been good.

“But it is at the other end we need to tighten up quickly – conceding three, four and six goals just isn’t sustainable.

“It’s the whole team who need to improve on that. The six minutes at Hibs came down solely to defending your box and so did the Alloa one with defending set-plays.

“We need to put that right, we will do.”