Moussa tipped to be Dens cult hero

DUNDEE: McCann confident Dark Blues fans will love their new Tunisian striker

Dundee manager Neil McCann believes new striker Sofien Moussa could become a “cult figure” at the club.

The Dark Blues completed the signing of the Tunisian on a two-year deal hours before last night’s 2-1 friendly loss to Bolton at Dens Park.

The 29-year-old, who will wear the number nine this season, didn’t feature against the English Championship side but could make his debut against Raith Rovers in the Betfred Cup at Stark’s Park on Tuesday.

McCann is confident the fans will like what they see.

“I am delighted to get Sofien because he is exactly what I have been looking for,” said the Dens gaffer.

“He is six-foot-three and is in some condition so he will offer us a real presence up front.

“He is powerful in the air and really good at holding the ball up. I think he will be terrific for us.

“He really could end up being cult figure here because he is a hungry boy and can’t wait to get started.”

As for the game against Bolton, Dundee were two down after half-anhour but produced some decent football, especially in the second half, and got one back through Paul McGowan.

Dundee’s final friendly of the summer ended in defeat as they lost 2-1 at Dens ParktoEnglishsideBoltonWandererslast night.

The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes through a Gary Madine goal then added another on the half-hour mark thanks to Josh Vela. Substitute Paul McGowan got one back for Neil McCann’s men on 77 minutes but, despite an encouraging second-half display, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

The Dark Blues had completed the signing of Tunisian striker Sofien Moussa before kick-off but the 29-year-old didn’t feature in the starting line-up or on the bench. In the side, though, were new boys Jack Hendry, Scott Allan, Glen Kamara and Randy Wolters.

The home side were the first to show their hand on just three minutes, with a fine move started by captain Cammy Kerr seeing Craig Wighton’s cross from the right headed goalwards by Allan.

Unfortunately for the on-loan Celtic midfielder, Bolton goalie Ben Alnwick did well to save just inside the post.

There was a scare for the Dens men on 10 minutes, though, when a high ball was allowed to sail through the middle of the defence and reach Wanderers striker Vela. The frontman got a toe on the ball but not enough to steer it home and Kevin Holt cleared the danger.

A Will Buckley free-kick flew over the Dundee bar then, on 16 minutes, Mark O’Hara was found by an excellent pass from Faissal El Bakhtaoui but Alnwick did well to save. From the resultant corner, Hendry flashed a header wide of the far post.

Despite the pressure from the hosts, with exactly 20 minutes gone it was 1-0 to the visitors.

A terrific ball into the box from Mark Beevers fell perfectly for Madine and he cleverly flicked the ball past Bain and into the net from six yards out.

Buckley almost added a quick second for Bolton but his angled strike was saved by Bain. They were in the driving seat now and they went two up on the half-hour.

Vela was the scorer this time, with the big man being allowed room from the home defenders on the edge of the box to tee up a low drive that beat the Dundee keeper.

The Dark Blues produced their best move of the match thus far on 35 minutes when Kerr raced down the right to deliver a cross that was nodded inches over by Wolters.

Madine’s free-kick from just outside the area was saved well by Bain before the whistle blew for half-time.

Roarie Deacon came on for the second half, replacing Wighton, while Bolton changed their goalkeeper, with Alnwick going off and Mark Howard coming on.

With 59 minutes gone, a dull passage of play was finally livened up when Dundee winger Wolters let fly with a strike from a tight angle that keeper Howard had to fist away.

Deacon, who had been receiving some rough treatment from the Bolton players, stayeddownafteronetacklefromBeevers but managed to get back up.

On 65 minutes, the visitors made their expected mass substitutions, with no fewer than nine players coming on.

Five minutes later, El Bakhtaoui tested Howard with a vicious strike that had to be pushed away to safety.

Dundee brought on subs Lewis Spence, McGowanandMarcusHaberforKamara, Allan and El Bakhtaoui on 72 minutes.

Haber should have scored almost straightawaybutmissedanabsolutesitter by somehow shooting straight at Howard when the goal was at his mercy.

McGowan grabbed a goal back for the DarkBlueson77minuteswhenhehooked a shot past Howard from a tight angle.

Dundee brought on keeper Kyle Gourlay, Danny Williams, and Tom Hateley for the closing stages, but the scoreline stayed the same as Bolton held on for victory.