It’s animal magic for McCann as his deadly Dark Blues change their stripes in Dingwall sting
Neil McCann hailed Dundee’s versatility after showing they could be “a different animal” in Dingwall.
A first away victory of the season fresh from humbling Rangers – with Mark O’Hara a goal hero again – dragged County and Kilmarnock into a pack of three just above bottom side Partick Thistle.
It was a fine performance, capped by a late Faissal El Bakhtaoui clincher, indicating a rejuvenated Dundee after early- season troubles. Jubilant gaffer McCann said: “It was two great goals.
“And to play so well at a place where County have been really strong recently is pleasing.
“It was a real team performance and our side is starting to show glimpses of our adaptability and flexibility. I’ve been working so hard with them on it since the start of the season because it is important during a match you can adapt to sides changing things themselves.
“We showed a different side to our game. We played from the back and got into areas where we could hurt County.
“After the goal we became a different animal–a counter-attacking team. That is a different side to us that we haven’t shown often this season. That is our first away clean sheet – our road form has been poor.
“All the hard work they have been putting in is starting to show. I’m so happy for them.”
It was a poor day for Owen Coyle’s men who were weakened by the inju r y absence of centre-half Andrew Davies as well as banned midfielder Jim
O’Brien. There was a debut for ex-Man United attacker Chris Eagles while McCann made just one change from the team that beat Rangers, with Marcus Haber only fit the for the bench and making way for Sofien Moussa.
The venue hadn’t been a happy hunting ground for Dundee with just one win and five defeats from their last eight league visits.
Despite that poor record the Tayside team took the initiative in a strong start with a Roarie Deacon strike flashing over.
Eagles’ early touches had been pleasing on the eye and the man signed by Sir Alex Ferguson at age 13 delighted the home crowd after 10 minutes. A nippy run cut a swathe past several Dundee jerseys before working a one-two with Jamie Lindsay.
Unfortunately for County the Celtic youngster’s return pass was just too heavy into the arms of Elliot Parish.
Dundee broke the deadlock after 18 minutes in a moment of slackness from the Staggies. A Deacon header found O’Hara striding forward through the right channel. As it opened up in front of him O’Hara sent a powerful, rising 25-yard shot inside the left-hand with keeper Aaron McCarey well beaten.
A clearly unhappy Coyle hooked defender van der Weg at the break for striker Craig Curran, with County switching to a back three.
There could easily have been a second for Dundee early in the second half when McCarey spilled a low El Bakhtaoui strike but Moussa and Deacon couldn’t take advantage. From the bench, former Caley Thistle striker Billy Mckay almost made a dream impact after 64 minutes, flicking an Eagles delivery onto the roof of the net.
As County went for it El Bakhtaoui was catching them on the break. And following a Lindsay miss in front of goal for the Highlanders, the Frenchman clinched it.
A long Glen Kamara ball from defence caught the Dingwall side exposed on the break and El Bakhtaoui tore in to lob McCarey.
Coyle, who saw Eagles’ display as a big positive, said: “We didn’t reach the standard we have in previous games. That said, goals change games and their boy scores a wonder strike.
“It probably suited Dundee playing on the counter-attack.
“At half-time we changed it and forced the issue in terms of pressure and possession around their goal but without creating the chances we would have liked.
“O’Brien and our skipper were a big miss but we had enough about us in terms of personnel to win the game.”