The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

Dee keen to keep up the fight

- GEORGE CRAN

Dundee boss Gary Bowyer has revealed there was a “strange atmosphere” in the home dressing-room after their 1-0 win over Hamilton.

But he insists that’s a good sign from his team after their third Championsh­ip victory in a row.

That’s because it was borne from frustratio­n at an under-par performanc­e against the league’s bottom side.

Paul Mcmullan’s secondhalf strike was enough to see the Dark Blues past the Accies.

However, the scoreline didn’t tell the whole story with the clean sheet earned after a strong defensive display complement­ed by some super saves from Ian Lawlor.

“I was really pleased with them on Saturday – they found a way to win,” Bowyer said.

“We weren’t as fluid as we can be, but they dug in and showed a different side, did what the fans have been calling for.

“They’ve done that for the past six, seven, eight games.

“But it was a strange atmosphere in the dressingro­om after the game.

“The players were disappoint­ed because of the standards they have set themselves.

“They were frustrated at how they had played despite winning the game. “That’s a good sign.” What wasn’t such a good sign was the sight of Dundee’s top scorer Zach Robinson (inset right) limping off on the hour mark.

The AFC Wimbledon man has been in fine form of late, scoring three times in the previous two matches.

The hope is his hamstring issue won’t keep him out of the team while adding to a growing list of players on the sidelines.

Missing on Saturday already were Paul Mcgowan, Jordan Marshall, Max Anderson and Joe Grayson, while Josh Mulligan was benched with a slight injury.

And Bowyer revealed after the game on Saturday that Ben Williamson and Tyler French had also picked up injuries. There is some good news among those players, however.

“Zach Robinson was sore after the game and sore again on Sunday,” Bowyer revealed.

“We’ll see how he progresses this week.

“Hopefully he was sensible enough to come off early enough.

“The circumstan­ce he got injured in maybe wasn’t ideal, but he’d lost the ball, and his natural reaction and enthusiasm meant he tried to get it back.

“But he’s done an injury like this before – so, hopefully, he won’t be too bad.”

Ben Williamson got a kick, but should be OK, while Tyler French felt something in his groin near the end of the game.

“Josh Mulligan picked up an injury with Scotland U21s last week, but Scotland were great and sent him back for treatment with us.

“Him being the lad he is, he wanted to play on Saturday, but we made the decision to look after him, and I think we managed that.

“With those possibly out we are stretched right now.

“It is a growing list, but we do have some coming back.

“Paul Mcgowan starts running this week, and Joe Grayson was back on the grass on Monday.

“Max Anderson is back, too. He’s at full throttle after going through the concussion protocols.”

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 ?? ?? VICTORY: Dundee head coach Gary Bowyer during the match against Hamilton.
VICTORY: Dundee head coach Gary Bowyer during the match against Hamilton.

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