The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mcgowan urges Dee owners to back boss
Dundee midfielder Paul Mcgowan has called on club chiefs to back manager James Mcpake in the January transfer window.
The Dark Blues have struggled for form in the past few weeks, losing their last four matches.
On top of that, their small squad has been stretched to its limits thanks to injuries and suspensions.
Midfield man Mcgowan is confident the squad can turn their fortunes around.
However, he is hoping some new faces can refresh the squad beyond the winter break next month.
“We have a lot of players missing and hopefully the club will back the manager to get a few boys in as well,” Mcgowan said.
“Probably a few will go out as well. We have to get to the break and we will see what happens.
“We have been here before and been questioned and had bad runs but we always come out the other side and produce.
“I am confident in the boys we have got but the manager will want to add and hopefully the club will back him in that.”
He added: “It is hard. Who would want to be a manager at times like this?
“There is so much other stuff to deal with and also trying to prepare a squad.
“Every day we are coming in to test and who is going to be available and who is not? It is part and parcel of the job.”
In the past week, Dundee have fallen to 1-0 defeats to Hibs and Hearts.
The difference at Easter Road was a Paul Mcmullan own goal, on Saturday a deflected shot hitting the post and falling for Jamie Walker to finish.
Mcgowan says luck has deserted the Dark Blues right now but he’s adamant that can change.
“You see the goal go in and it is incredible the luck we are getting just now. It deflects off Fonts and rolls along the line,” he said.
“It is heartbreaking, if I am being honest, especially for the fight we put in. It is tough but it will turn.
“I thought we were the better team in the first half and we were going to win it.
“Sucker punches is what has been happening in the last few games. We have been playing well and it has just not been happening. It will turn.
“I believe in this group. We have been down so many times and we always seem to find a way of getting through.
“If we keep playing like we did in the first half and the rest of the game then we will be fine. It is just those fine margins.
“We showed that against Hearts because Adam (Legzdins) has not had a save to make.
“It is a sore one but I am proud of the players and the manager has said the same.
“It is all we can ask for is to stick together and get through to the break and hopefully bodies come back in.”
Despite a host of injury problems ahead of the clash, Mcpake was able to name an experienced starting XI.
The five-man bench had just three Premiership appearances between them, all for Alex Jakubiak, as 17-year-olds Callum Lamb and Craig Donald were named as subs.
With fog hanging low over the Dens Park pitch, the first half was a competitive affair but with few chances.
Heading towards halftime, a Dundee break saw Luke Mccowan cut inside and go for goal only to see Craig Gordon beat the ball out with a low save.
In the second half, chances continued to be few and far between with more shouts from the crowd about Willie Collum’s refereeing than goalmouth action.
With 72 minutes on the clock, sub Jamie Walker stole into the Dundee area but poked his finish well wide of the goal.
Three minutes later, Walker went one better as he gave the Jambos the lead, following in a deflected Aaron Mceneff effort that rebounded off the post and into his path.
As conditions worsened, the Dark Blues pushed for an equaliser but Danny Mullen’s shot flashing past Gordon’s near post in stoppage-time was as close as they came.