McCann urges angry fans to ‘keep the faith’
Neil McCann last night urged Dundee fans to stay behind their team after their poor start to the season boiled over in the stands. A sizeable section of Dark Blues fans booed their team from the pitch after yesterday’s defeat at St Johnstone – their fourth on the bounce. A number also expressed their displeasure in McCann’s direction after he took to the field to applaud them. But the Dee gaffer, who shared his own frustration with the result, urged them to keep the faith. “I can understand the fans showing their disappointment at the end,” he said. “We all want to win the game and they came here in numbers so they are obviously disappointed we came away with nothing. “I just want them to stick by the players and continue to support them. “We know it’s the third league game down and we don’t have any points. “They can’t keep hearing again that we have played well – the boys need to start taking the chances they’re creating. “The fans have been brilliant to me as a player and as the manager. “When things are not going well they’re going to shout and voice their disappointment. “I get that because I am disappointed for my team. “We will go again on Monday and get ready for Motherwell next weekend.” Once again, Dundee enjoyed plenty of possession but couldn’t translate it into goals. The remedy, says McCann, is to keep on grafting on the training ground. “It’s so frustrating because I felt we totally dominated the first half, bar a five-minute spell St Johnstone had,” he said. “We dealt with their threat well and were the better side before half time. “It’s another one where I feel we have played well – in the first half more than the second – but got nothing from the game. “We moved the ball well in the first half but didn’t do it the same in the second half. “We are being punished for individual errors, it’s difficult but you just have to keep working on things.” Saints gaffer Tommy Wright hailed McCann’s side as a slick passing outfit. But his message was tinged with relief over claiming an all-important first victory of the Premiership campaign. “Dundee are probably one of the best footballing sides in the country,” he said. “At times we had to be patient and keep our shape, so it’s a good win – and an important win because I know in this management game you need to get that first win as quickly as possible.”