Dundee wary of cup upset after Bonnyrigg scare

The words “Bonnyrigg Rose” still cause a shiver to run down the spine of those at Dens Park.

It is just over a year ago since the Lowland League club came within seconds of pulling off a huge upset at Dundee’s expense.

A last-gasp Jonathan Afolabi equaliser spared any dark blue blushes that day before extra time saw Dundee come out on top.

A year later and James Mcpake’s side face another potential banana skin in the Scottish Cup as they head to Peterhead this evening with a place in the last eight at stake.

On the back of a moraleboosting victory in the league over Hearts, the Dens Park boss is keen to make it two wins from two.

“It is a very tricky game. Peterhead will see it as an opportunity to get into the quarter-final,” said Mcpake.

“We’re not looking at them any different to a Premiership side.

“Everything that was there on Wednesday has to be there on Monday if we want to get a positive result.

“We got a real scare against Bonnyrigg in the Scottish Cup last season.

“This is a massive game for both clubs because the prize at the end is a place in the quarter-final.

“They will be up for it so we have to match the fight and determination and get our quality players on the ball that can go and hurt them.

“There’s no way we can take them lightly.

“If we do, we’ll be out of the cup.”

Dundee head north to Balmoor with no new injury worries and expect to welcome Paul Mcgowan back to the squad after a back problem.

Full-back Vontae Daleycampbell is still suspended after his red card against Ross County.

On injuries, Mcpake said: “Nothing fresh from the other night. We’ll hopefully have Paul Mcgowan back in the squad and potentially Jordan Marshall.

“Lee Ashcroft is out on the grass now too so he’ll back soon as well.”

Dundee’s latest signing Zeno Rossi has returned to Scotland with a point to prove. The Bournemouth defender’s time last season at Kilmarnock ended with the Rugby Park outfit dropping down into the Championship.

And the 21-year-old is determined his time north of the border isn’t associated with relegation as he bids to help the Dark Blues stay in the top flight.

“I haven’t come up here thinking we’re going to get relegated. I’ve come here by thinking about it from the other side – what if I come here and we stay up,” the Englishman said.

“My last loan didn’t end well but it was a great personal experience for me and, off the back of that, I came into this season really strongly with Bournemouth.

“I’ve definitely got something to prove.

“When you go out on loan the first thing you’re trying to prove is you are good enough to play for your parent club. I’m trying to prove that.

“And the whole team here, I’ve seen already, are trying to prove they can stay in this league and so am I.”

‘Latest’ is certainly the word to describe Rossi’s switch from the south coast of England.

Despite agreeing the move on deadline day, a paperwork hitch meant the deal didn’t go through before the transfer window shut.

That saw an anxious wait for approval from Fifa before the move was eventually sanctioned on February 9.

Almost nine days may have passed since deadline day closed but Dundee were still able to get their man and Rossi could make his debut at Peterhead tonight.

“It was a bit of a mad week,” the defender said. “On deadline day it happened quite quickly but then there was a little period before midnight where I didn’t think it was going to go through.

“It was all a bit anxious and then it was basically waiting for a week on a verdict.

“I’m buzzing it has finally gone through.”

He added: “Deadline day is always a bit mad and there were a few different teams we were speaking to.

“Dundee came in just a few hours before the deadline. All day I was waiting by the phone and getting calls from everywhere.

“It was getting late and I spoke to a couple of different gaffers and decided this was the best place for me.

“I had a good chat with the gaffer and really liked what I heard. Ultimately that’s why I chose to come here.”

Rossi featured early on in the season for parent club Bournemouth as they began their bid to return to the Premier League.

However, the Cherries have since brought in a Champions League winning central defender and a Liverpool man on loan. That saw Rossi drop down the pecking order, prompting the desire to get out and play first-team football elsewhere.

“I had a really good start to the season and I was in and around it but football is what it is, we’re pushing for promotion and almost have a Premier League squad at the moment,” Rossi added.

“We signed a lot of top players. There’s Gary Cahill and Nat Phillips in my position so they thought going out and playing firstteam football was the best thing for me.

“I wanted to go out and play games as well.”

‘BUZZING’: Zeno Rossi liked what he heard during talks with Dundee manager James Mcpake.