McCann insists he is still the man to turn Dee around
DUNDEE 0 HibERNiAN 3 Kamberi (51), Boyle (54), Agyepong (88)
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Dundee boss Neil McCann last night insisted he is still the man to turn round the crisis-hit Dark Blues – despite coming under even more serious pressure.
This was his side’s sixth straight Premiership defeat, leaving McCann’s future in the hands of Dens Park directors who no doubt found this latest effort every bit as painful as the irate home supporters who vented their obvious disgust at theend. Even this early in the season, this fell into the realms of a must-win match for the Tayside club, who remain rooted at the foot of the table without a point, following their most-wretched start to a campaign for years. It all began to go wrong early in the second half with the concession of two goals within the space of four minutes to Florian Kamberi and Martin Boyle. Substitute Thomas Agyepong’s 88th-minute clincher ensured the points would be heading back to the capital. Dundee now find themselves away to Hamilton next weekend, with another loss not worth contemplating. McCann said: “I feel we’re working under pressurised circumstances. “I’m not gong to hide from that. I know we’re on a real bad run in terms of results. “Every manager I’ve worked with has had to work under those circumstances and I’m not going to be frightened by that challenge. “I’ll just keep working hard, as that’s the only thing I can do. “Unfortunately, the lads are playing with a lack of confidence. “I can’t give them that. They have got to find that. They still have my belief and I’ll keep giving them it. “The relationship I have had with the board has been first-class. “They’ve been great and I still feel I’m the man to turn things roundsohaven’tsoughtany reassurances. “If that time comes then we will have the discussion, but so far it’s not happened.” Dundee welcomed back Glen Kamara, their influential midfielder, but veteran striker Kenny Miller was suspended following his sending-off at Ibrox last weekend. The hosts launched their first real attack after just three minutes, Andrew Boyle setting free Adil Nabi but his low shot from 20 yards was tipped round the post by Adam Bogdan. Hibs ventured forward soon after when Martin Boyle’s cross found its way to Kamberi, but he could only glance his header wide. Then controversy erupted after 36 minutes. Kharl Madianga latched on to Paul McGowan’s pass before going to ground inside the box between Hibs’ central-defensive pairing of Eve Ambrose and Paul Hanlon. Instead of being awarded a penalty, though, Madianga was booked by ref Andrew Dallas for diving. The second half began with Kamberi rattling the far post, before substitute Steven Whittaker’s shot from the rebound was tipped over by Parish. But Hibs weren’t to be denied. First, Kamberi ran on to Mallan’s through ball and poked a finish past Elliott Parish. The contest was over after 55 minutes. Ambrose’s raking pass split the Dundee defence, and Boyle picked his spot from a tight angle. Then, two minutes from the end, Agyepong emulated Boyle’s finish, finding the net from Mark Milligan’s pass.
By Euan McArthur