Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McCowan vows most of tension
LUKE McCowan hopes Dundee can use restlessness in the Hibs support to their advantage.
The Dark Blues midfielder said there were shades of it in evidence when they left Easter Road with a respectable 0-0 draw earlier in the season.
Tension among the home fans has risen further since then.
Nick Montgomery’s side haven’t won a league match since a 1-0 win away to Livingston at the start of December.
Hibees supporters haven’t witnessed a home win in any competition since the week before that trip to the Tony Macaroni Arena.
McCowan knows that if Dundee start the match well, the home crowd turning on their team could work to the visitors’ advantage.
“They are used to being successful and when they aren’t, it is a pain for the fans,” said the Dark Blues star.
“It can get on top of the players and you can feel that when you are against them. The whole place kind of sinks.
“So we have to get that on our side and use it as best we can.
“We have to use that. The message the boys will have is that Hibs might get their win – but it will not be against us.
“We know they are a good team and can play great football at times. You saw them draw at Aberdeen, scoring two great goals.
“So we know they are a threat and we know we have to be right at it.”
Dundee lost the other meeting
between the teams this season, a 2-1 defeat for the Dark Blues at Dens Park.
However, they go into this one after back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership.
The points gained have them sitting pretty in sixth – and with the chance to extend the gap to seventh-placed Hibs to eight points.
McCowan said the opportunity to put three consecutive wins on the
board for the first time this season is yet more motivation.
“That might be a wee carrot that the manager dangles in front of us,” he said.
“And, hopefully, that will be a bit of extra motivation for the boys.”
The 26-year-old has been in excellent form for Dundee this season in a central midfield role.
He has also caught the eye while sporting a peroxide-blond haircut.
It was something he originally
had done while he was on holiday that has stuck around.
“I might keep it, but I am not really tanned anymore,” laughed McCowan.
“When I got it in Ireland, I played well so I decided to keep it, but I will see.
“My missus’s sister is a hairdresser, so I get the highlights for free, but I might just accidentally miss my appointment next time and try to grow it out – or go the other way and get a baldy.”
Meanwhile, a bumper away following is set to follow Dundee this afternoon. By yesterday evening, the Dark Blues had sold out their away allocation for Easter Road.
Dundee, though, haven’t won in Leith in 15 attempts – a run stretching all the way back to Gavin Rae and Steven Milne goals in a 2-1 victory in 2001. And their record overall against the Edinburgh side is not good either, with just one win in the last 16 meetings.
However, optimism is soaring among Dundee supporters as their team lies in pole position in the race for a top-half finish.
Now a full away section will be hoping they can cheer their side to a third win in a row.
Dundee fans had snapped up the 1,292 tickets available with the club originally informed no more would be released. However, due to demand from Dees, further tickets can now be purchased