Dark Blues notch a late double to deny Lichties

It may have been a friendly but things got a bit heated during the Arbroath v Dundee encounter. credit for their second- half improvement.

He said: “I was disappointed with the first half but I can’t be too hard on them because I just wanted to try something. It probably didn’t work, but these are the games to do it in, before the League Cup starts. I was pleased we tried something.

“It gave me something to look at if we wanted to go down that road.

“But I was pleased with the second half. I know people say you don’t get carried away with friendly results, but I want to win games, so I’m happy with how the players kept going.”

New arrivals Jack Hendry, Lewis Spence and Roarie Deacon started for the Dee, along with two trialists – German midfielder Nils Rutten and Dutch centre- half Crescendo van Berkel.

M c C a n n’s men looked disjointed in the early stages – and Arbroath took advantage.

The Lichties claimed the lead in the 18th minute when Steven Doris notched from the penalty spot, having been hauled to the turf by Hendry.

Dundee responded by getting wing- backs Cammy Kerr and Kevin Holt up the park in support of front pairing Deacon and Marcus Haber, but failed to create a single noteworthy chance before the interval.

With his side behind, McCann rang the changes at half-time.

Celtic loanee Scott Allan, new recruit Randy Wolters and Finnish trialist Glen Kamara were among those brought on, but Arbroath looked more than comfortable against their Premiership opponents until El Bakhtaoui smashed home the equaliser eight minutes from time.

The Dee then rallied and notched a superb winner through the lively Wolters to leave the luckless Lichties licked.

■