McCann cancels day off after ‘unacceptable’ show
DUNDEE boss Neil McCann insists his side’s slovenly attitude as they limped past Highland League opponents Buckie Thistle was ‘unacceptable’.
McCann, who took over on a permanent basis last month following an interim spell at the end of last season, vented his fury despite his side moving joint top of Group C with city rivals United — who face Cowdenbeath at Tannadice today.
The 42-year-old has made a name for himself for expressing his opinions as a Sky pundit, but on this occasion it was his own players who found themselves on the receiving end of some stinging criticism.
McCann told his players their day off today is cancelled and they’ll be in for extra training after goals in either half from Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Sofien Moussa sealed three points.
‘It was terrible — not good enough. And they’ve been told that. I’m very unhappy with the performance overall,’ he said.
‘Full respect to Buckie for playing with two strikers and they did not try to make it difficult like Raith Rovers did.
‘But our attitude wasn’t there. It wasn’t acceptable.
‘I don’t know what I would put it down to. I’ll have a word with them on Sunday.
‘They were meant to be off but they’re in now and I’ll have a word with them then.’
McCann insists his side will need to up their game for rivals United next week at Dens Park.
‘That is a wake-up call considering we have a derby next Sunday,’ said McCann.
‘We can’t stroll about and think we’re going to win because we’re a Premiership team.’
Dundee went ahead in 22 minutes when El Bakhtaoui danced past a couple of Buckie challenges before sending a shot into the top corner.
Moussa made it 2-0 with a low finish with five minutes to go.