New Dee boss pledges to get things right after rout
The reality of the job in hand just crudely cuffed Jim McIntyre in the face like a petulant prizefighter during the manager’s first game in the Dens Park hotseat. Four goals via set-pieces were conveyed to a Livingston side still riding a high after promotion with their bubble yet to burst to the consternation of critics. Known for producing wellorganised sides, McIntyre was understandably concerned by the shoddiness of his team’s defending, but pledged to put things right. “In a nutshell, we did not defend set plays,” the manager lamented. “We highlighted Livingston’s strengths before the game. We talked about it in the last couple of days. We showed what a big threat they are from set plays and they need not give away silly free kicks because it is one of their major strengths. Equally, you have got to stand up and be counted when it comes to man-to-man defending and we have not done that today and we have been punished four times. It’s not good enough. We can’t accept that. I won’t accept that.” Still in the search for a righthand man to assist him, McIntyre elected not to force through too many changes to a team which had won only one out of their previous nine games. Elton Ngwatala and Adil Nabi dropped to the bench with Sofien Moussa and Benjamin Kallman forcing their way into the starting XI. Livingston named their same starting line-up for the sixth game in a row. Things started well for the Dee as the home side were almost count on the counterattack by their former manager Kenny Miller, as namesake Calvin Miller led the charge after defending a corner before finding the former Scotland striker who curled his effort just wide. Then the heavens caved in as Gary Holt’s men took the lead in typical Livingston fashion. A free-kick on the left flank was delivered into the box by Keaghan Jacobs and Declan Gallagher was left unmarked at the back post to guide his header into the back of the net. The Tayside outfit almost equalised minutes later through a free-kick of their own, but this time Benjamin Kallman’s header was smothered on the goal line by Liam Kelly. The Dark Blues had not learned their lesson defensively as Livi extended their lead from another Jacobs’ free-kick on the cusp of half-time. It was the head of his skipper the midfielder found this time around, allowing Crag Halkett to glance his effort home. It was no surprise that Livingston added their third of a match through a set-piece. This time the mere presence of Alan Lithgow at the back post flat-footed Elliot Parish allowing Stevie Lawless to score directly from his free-kick on the right wing. It was getting embarrassing now as again a set-piece tore Dundee apart in the last minute. Lithgow turned poacher, heading home Steven Lawson’s corner at the back post. Livi manager Holt was quick to point out that his side’s deadliness from set-pieces was not due to fortune but hard work on the training ground. “A lot of goals are scored from set plays and it’s one aspect of the game you can work on more”, Holt stated. “You can define attention to detail to it. You can give people roles and responsibilities when you are defending and give them roles and responsibilities when you are attacking. It’s the one area that you can work on religiously to try to get it right.”