Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Manager McPake calls for ‘real intensity’ from his side against Caley
JAMES McPake has called for “real intensity” from his Dundee side as they return to league action this weekend.
The Dark Blues host Inverness Caley Thistle in their third Championship fixture of the campaign aiming to make it two wins and a draw so far.
McPake’s side head into the contest on the back of an impressive performance against Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup and he’s after more of the same this weekend with key players like Shaun Byrne setting the tone.
McPake said: “I thought Shaun Byrne was outstanding on Sunday.
“That’s the best I have seen him at our club.
“I have seen loads of that at Livingston and throughout his career but that was the first time I saw the real Shaun Byrne here.
“The ground he covered was great but it is the way we want to play – we want to press teams and get after them. You want players who can do that and Danny Johnson certainly can. Neller (Andrew Nelson) can as well.
“When he goes, he goes with a real intensity.
“That’s what we are trying to do, to bring an intensity to the club and we are getting there.”
After putting plenty into the Betfred Cup match, McPake was worried there would be a downturn in training this week.
He said: “I was a bit concerned before training on Tuesday not knowing what was going to come.
“Some of them played 120 minutes. The stats were incredible and showed their workrate.
“They got the Monday off and deservedly so because they needed it.
“My concern was would there be a headache from Sunday but it looked the opposite.
“There is a decent buzz about the place and long may that continue.”