Sparks will fly but ‘no blood’ says Mccann

Neil Mccann has played down a personal rivalry with Neil Lennon as his Dundee side prepare to host Hibs on Sunday, having lost all three of their games so far this season. Mccann and Lennon will come face to face in the dugouts, having been familiar foes from their Old Firm playing days, but despite admitting sparks may fly, the Dens Park boss thinks both men have a similar outlook on football.

He said: “I don’t remember any one-to-one battles with Neil, because when you’re in the Old Firm anything is fair game.

“We’re exactly the same. He loves the game and is passionate about it, but I’d like to think he knows I am too and will back my team up 100 per cent and want to win as much as anybody.

“When those qualities come together there are sparks, but there’s a decent gap between the dugouts and I don’t think the fourth official will need to stop any blood happening.”