ALLAN DREAMS OF ENDING FANS’ CUP FRUSTRATION
SCOTT ALLAN feels bad for Dundee fans who have had to look on with envy as rival clubs have got their hands on the Scottish Cup. Tonight’s opponents Inverness Caley Thistle upset the odds in style when they won the famous old trophy for the first time in 2015. And when Hibs ended their 114year wait for the Cup by defeating Rangers in 2016, it only served to turn the spotlight on the Dark Blues — as they have not won the tournament since 1910. Allan, on loan from Celtic, hopes this is the year that the team can give their fans some glory at last by going all the way to Hampden. But they will first have to come through a tough fourth-round replay in Inverness after being held to a 2-2 draw by John Robertson’s resurgent Championship side at Dens Park. ‘When the fans here see the likes of Inverness and Hibs in recent seasons winning the Scottish Cup, they can be a bit envious,’ said Allan. ‘It’s understandable. It would be lovely for us to give them a good run and go as far as we can. ‘I feel, if we’re on our game, we’ll cause Inverness a lot of problems up there. It will be a tough tie but we will be absolutely ready for it.’ Dundee head for the Highlands still on a high from Saturday’s late win at Hamilton after AJ Leitch-Smith struck with the last kick of the ball. And Allan insists the sheer elation of that victory has rubbed off on Neil McCann’s men. ‘It’s one of the best feelings ever to score a last-minute goal,’ he added. ‘That should stand us in good stead and, hopefully, we’ll come out the blocks flying this time.’ McCann, meanwhile, will be looking for an improvement from the first tie against an Inverness side who have gathered some momentum in the Championship after a shaky start. ‘If my players are at it, and I’m not being disrespectful to John Robertson or his players, then I’d back us to progress,’ he said.