The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Late collapse ‘sums up’ Dundee season
Dundee’s late collapse at Livingston “summed up” the season for the Dark Blues, admits assistant manager Dave Mackay.
Alan Forrest’s 84thminute winner saw Livi come from 1-0 down to take all three points as a disappointing season ended in disappointing fashion for the Dens Park club.
Josh Mulligan had opened the scoring before Andrew Shinnie levelled with 12 minutes to go.
That saw the Dark Blues finish the season six points adrift at the foot of the Premiership with 29 points from their 38 matches.
“It summed up our season where we are comfortable enough in the lead but, all of a sudden, five minutes later you are 2-1 down,” said Mackay, who did post-match duties in place of departing manager Mark Mcghee.
“It’s happened too many times this season.
“There wasn’t much at stake today but it was a similar performance to the rest of the campaign.
“Attitude and application has never been an issue all season. The staff and players have given it their all but ultimately we’ve come up short, we’ve not been good enough.
“At this level, you get punished.”
Mcghee and Simon Rusk took charge of their final match in the Dundee dugout after the club confirmed their departure at the end of the season.
Who the new manager will be is yet to be known.
Mackay’s future, meanwhile, is also up in the air.
Asked what is next for him, Mackay said: “No idea. We’re all in for meetings tomorrow. At the minute I’m just disappointed we couldn’t finish on a high.
“There will be some people moving on, others staying, but it’s a chance now for the club to rebuild to make sure the next time we get back to the Premiership, in hopefully a year’s time, it is in a much better place to sustain it.”
A young manager is the desired successor to Mcghee so would Mackay fancy it himself ?
“That’s the least of my thoughts right now. Not at all,” he added.
“The club will work through a process and will have plenty of good candidates. Ultimately it is a big decision for the club and they need to make sure we get the right one in.”
Mcghee’s final team selection made no changes from the win over Hibs on Tuesday, though Paul
Mcgowan missed a place on the bench through illness.
Danny Mullen returned after his own bout of sickness in what could be his last match for Dundee.
Skipper Charlie Adam is also out of contract, with talks on his future expected in the coming days. He started as a substitute.
Dundee made a far brighter start, Max Anderson cracking the post after just four minutes.
Craig Sibbald would send a decent effort wide before Mcmullan was again denied by a strong Stryjek save, tipping the winger’s half-volley over the bar.
Harry Sharp wasn’t to be outdone at the other end, however, as he pushed an Adam Lewis effort over.
After the break, the young Dundee goalie was on his toes again, getting down low to save a Jack Fitzwater header.
The opener, though, came at the other end as Zak Rudden and Jordan Marshall exchanged passes before the full-back crossed to the far post.
Meeting it at the far post was Mulligan to net his second in two games.
Adam came on with 14 minutes left in what could be his farewell appearance for his boyhood club.
But seconds later the score was 1-1 as Shinnie poked home from close range following a corner.
Morgan Boyes limped off with eight minutes to go, leaving Livi with 10 men, but the hosts immediately took the lead as Alan Forrest curled into the far corner.