The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mcmullan has eyes on prize as Dee fight for play-off glory
Winger Paul Mcmullan had just one target in mind when he crossed Sandeman Street to sign for Dundee – return the Dark Blues to the Premiership.
He achieved that with Dundee United last season, now he wants to achieve an unlikely Dundee double by helping both city clubs achieve promotion in the space of 12 months.
The diminutive attacker has been a revelation since swapping Tannadice for Dens Park in January, racking up numerous assists.
Now he has his sights on getting past Raith Rovers in this week’s two-legged play-off semi-final.
The winner sets up a final against a top-flight outfit with a place at the top table at stake.
“It’s really important to get Dundee back into the Premiership,” said Mcmullan.
“This is a big club, they’ve built a squad to go and compete in the top division.
“It’s no use having the squad to compete in the Premiership if you’re not there. So we need to get the job done.
“We have a chance to get up into the Premiership.
“I’ve had it twice; never quite managed to get over the line on either occasion, but it’s been close.
“Hopefully this time can get all the way.”
Mcmullan’s Dark Blues debut came at Stark’s Park, where he set up Osman Sow for the opening goal.
The day didn’t end so well, with a 3-1 defeat.
Times have changed at
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Dens Park though, and Mcmullan expects a far different Dundee performance tonight.
The Dens men go into the contest on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in the league.
That included a 2-1 victory over Raith – a match the winger says gives his side confidence going into this week’s double-header.
“We played well when they came here and hope to carry that on into the two ties coming up,” he said.
“We’re on a good run, unbeaten in our last eight games, and that’s good timing towards the end of the season, with the playoffs coming. We just need to carry it through.
“I think the most recent time I went into the playoffs, we were in pretty decent form.
“It’s just about the guys’ confidence. You feel good, you know each other, what you like to do – it always helps.
“But, having missed out the last couple of times, absolutely I want to put that right.
“It’s been my goal since I got here, to get Dundee into the Premiership. I’ve given myself a chance.”
Mcmullan’s assists for United were in double figures last term and he has got to 10 in just half a season at Dundee.
But the former Celtic and Dunfermline man insists he is not keeping track.
One stat he would very much like to change this week is the goals column.
Having come within inches of opening his Dark Blues account on multiple occasions, the play-offs would be an ideal time to do just that.
“I’ve hit the woodwork a couple of times, so I’m getting closer,” he said.
“Hopefully in these next few games I can get on the scoresheet.
“I’ve seen a couple of the (assist) stats. I’ve not been actually noting them down when I get them.
“But as long as I’m contributing to the team winning and scoring, that’s what matters.
“I didn’t set a target when I came in. The goal was to get to the Premiership.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance with how we’ve played. Now we have to follow through with it.”
Meanwhile, winning the Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year awards is only the start for Dundee defender Lee Ashcroft.
That’s according to his manager James Mcpake, who expects the big centreback to “kick on” again and show the Premiership what it’s been missing.
Ashcroft started at Kilmarnock, where he spent four seasons in the top flight.
But he has been a Championship player for the past five years, having joined Dunfermline in 2016 before moving to Dens last summer.
The defender has been a mainstay in defence but has also come up with a string of crucial goals.
He’s currently on six for the season ahead of this week’s play-off doubleheader against Raith Rovers.
Mcpake said: I tried to sign Lee last season. He’s a player we’d done a lot of stats on and he’d won more headers than anyone else in the league last year.
“I played against him when he was a kid and I thought ‘he’s got a chance’. I’m surprised he’s not played Premiership football his entire career.
“He hasn’t surprised me this season, though, if anything I think he can kick on.
“I told him that when he got the awards – he’s a Premiership centre-back.
“He wants to help us get there then kick on again.”
Ashcroft was a clear winner of the Andrew De Vries Trophy, as voted for by Dundee Supporters Association clubs.
He picked up 16 individual nominations with Charlie Adam and Jordan Marshall next closest on six each.
And that’s the one that will mean most, says Mcpake.
“Lee will say the Player’s Player is the one you want but to get the supporters’ one I think is really important,” the Dens boss said.
“That shows what the fans think of you, even when they aren’t here watching the games.
“That’ll give him a boost, though he is high on confidence anyway because he’s playing well.
“I love working with him, he always wants to learn. His work ethic is out of this world, so I am delighted with him.
“He has these awards, but we want more success from him.
“We’re hoping for four big performances from him because that will go a long way to getting us where we want to be.”