McCann hails progress but focus is on Buddies

ALL attention now turns to Dundee’s eagerly-awaited Scottish Premiership opener with St Mirren.

Having negotiated a route into the last 16 of the Betfred Cup, the Dark Blues can begin to give their full focus to the upcoming campaign.

Neil McCann’s side were never endangered at any point by part-time Brechin, who finished up with just ten men due to Callum Tapping’s late sending-off. Strikes in either half from Lewis Spence and Paul McGowan ensured the hosts would feature in today’s draw for the knockout stages.

Dunfermline went through as group winners thanks to a 3-1 win over Stirling Albion. Peter MacDonald gave the Binos the lead at half-time but a brace from Myles Hippolyte and a James Vincent goal turned the tie around.

The real stuff, however, for Dundee gets underway when the Taysiders travel to take on newly-promoted St Mirren on Saturday.

McCann said: ‘We could have won by a lot greater margin but the most important thing is we have progressed to the next stage.

‘It puts us in a good frame of mind for the league opener away to St Mirren, who’ll also be feeling confident.’

Dundee had failed to sparkle in front of the live cameras a week ago and were left in no doubt by their manager that more of the same would not be accepted.

Their opening was brisk. Kharl Madianga’s tenth-minute shot was saved by Conor Brennan, before Spence gave them the lead.

The midfielder appeared to be lining up a cross from inside the Brechin penalty area which took Brennan by surprise as it nestled into his top corner.

Dundee went further ahead in 59 minutes. McGowan latched on to a loose ball from a set-piece, and from the edge of the box, he drove his shot low into the net.

Brechin boss Darren Dods said: ‘It was always going to be tough but the boys showed character to restore some morale.’