Experience needed or pressure will rise

DUNDEE’S result at Hamilton, combined with the opening-day defeat to Ross County, can only be described as a disappointment.

Not just because they’ve got nothing out of the two games but that these two matches were against teams who were in and around them last season and will, no doubt, be again this time.

Home to County and then away to Accies, you must get something because when it’s Aberdeen away next then things start to get a bit worrying.

Then comes Hibs at Dens before a trip to Ibrox, which means that, before they know it, the Dark Blues could find themselves a wee bit adrift.

When you don’t pick up anything from the sides near the bottom of the table, you end up putting yourself under unnecessary pressure when it comes to taking on the bigger boys.

Hopefully, though, that leads to Dundee bringing out their best.

Anything else on Saturday won’t be good enough.

The positive thing from the weekend was they created plenty of chances.

Not taking them, though, is a habit Dundee have carried over from last season.

Missing chances and giving easy ones away at the other end is not a combination that leads to success.

This is the top flight, you get punished if you give teams opportunities and that’s something Dundee need to sharpen up with.

Central defence has been a problem for Neil McCann so far and you’ve got to think the Accies defeat would confirm the need to get more experience in there.

They’ve had to rely on two young lads in Jack Hendry and Kerr Waddell and, no matter how good they are, you need experience in that position.

Darren O’Dea obviously has that but doubts over his fitness leave a question mark.

He went off again with a knock at New Douglas Park and Dundee will need their captain to lead them next weekend at Pittodrie.

It’s not like Hamilton are prolific scorers or anything, so conceding three goals to them — after letting in four at the end of last season — is a concern.

If the boys up front aren’t putting away the chances then the defenders have to be hard to beat. It’s pretty simple. If they aren’t then they’re going to lose more often than not in this league.

Boss Neil McCann needs to get his side sharper at both ends of the pitch or Dundee will be up against it quickly.