Home is where it hurts for Dundee
Focus now on securing play-off after another Dens defeat sees Dark Blues fall further behind
LONG before this oddly onesided affair had reached its conclusion, Dundee’s hopes of automatic promotion had gone the way of the artificial trees, decorations and lights. Solemnly packed away for another year.
The optimism that had washed over James McPake’s side after a deserved draw at Tannadice on December 27 had extended their unbeaten run to four matches proved to be a temporary affair.
Now 20 points behind runaway league leaders Dundee United, they will have to do things the hard way. More immediately, their priority is ensuring the likes of Dunfermline and Queen of the South do not deny them a place in the play-offs.
There is no great secret to where it has all gone so wrong. Of the 31 points the Dark Blues have shipped this term, 14 of those have been lost at home. No side showing such vulnerability on their own turf has ever built a solid promotion campaign.
The fact that the club’s owners, John Nelms and Tim Keyes, have now put a commitment to submitting a planning application for a new stadium in writing will offer little short-term comfort.
By every conceivable measure, the Dark Blues were second best here. Inverness’ energy and organisation was the main reason they dominated the first half but Dundee were also sloppy and devoid of guile.
The Highlanders had already gone close three times when Kevin McHattie produced a superb switch of play on 17 minutes to release Shaun Rooney. Afforded freedom, he centred for Aaron Doran. The finish into the topleft corner was clinical.
Within seven minutes, the game was as good as done. Whether the possibility of moving to MK Dons this month was preying on Graham
Dorrans’ mind or not, only he could possibly say. But the former Rangers man was off the pace here, his inability to stop Rooney crucial as the visitors swiftly turned defence into attack.
The full-back’s pass to James Keatings saw Jordan Marshall jump in and miss the ball. Keatings kept his composure to slide the ball out of Jack Hamilton’s grasp.
The marginal improvement in Dundee after the break had to be seen in context. Job just about done, John Robertson’s men were content to hold what they had. With Coll Donaldson and McHattie dominating Dundee’s frontline, their hard-won three points were never truthfully in any danger.
The insipid nature of this loss brought catcalls from elements of the home support throughout.
You could hardly blame them. If Dundee are to stay in the running even to take the long road back to the Premiership, a drastic and sustained improvement is required.
‘It’s devastating,’ said defender Jordan McGhee. ‘Going from the high of four games without defeat to that is just not good enough.
‘We didn’t start well or do enough to get into the game. We tried to get back into it but it’s very difficult when you are 2-0 down and the other team is just sitting in.
‘That’s what we spoke about before the game — getting in their faces and getting the crowd on our side and continuing from last week.
‘We were far from that. In fact, we were the opposite. We invited pressure and were dominated in the first 25 minutes.’ Whether the owners’ unequivocal pledges over the Camperdown Park development hold true, we shall know soon enough.
But in the short term, the concerns centre around the fact the squad rarely look at home at rickety old Dens Park.
It goes without saying that McPake’s players either embrace the challenge of playing there or they prepare for another year in the second tier.
‘There can’t be a problem playing here,’ stressed McGhee. ‘We’re at a big club. The boys know the fans have a right to voice their opinions.
‘It’s got to be far better than that was. You need to have belief and the b **** to go out and play in these games. I think we’ve got that in the dressing room. There’s added pressure as soon as you sign at Dundee.’
Dorrans’ situation requires clarification. Although signed on a one-year deal in September, the suggestion of a clause in his contract allowing him to move for nothing this month has not been denied.
If he had a bad day at the office
This is a big club. The boys know the fans have a right to voice their opinions
here, he remains key to Dundee’s aspirations of bouncing back to the big time.
‘Of course it’s important that we keep him,’ offered McGhee. ‘He has played at the top level — in the English Premier League and with Rangers.
‘He’s a really important player for us. Apart from that, he’s great around the dressing room, helping and speaking to the boys.
‘It would be massive for us to keep him but he’s a top player and there’s bound to be interest.’
Let none of this take away from a display by the visitors that delighted their manager.
The reintroduction of James Vincent gave Caley Thistle defensive solidity and also the platform to take the game to their opponents.
Although the 14 points separating themselves from Dundee United simply looks too much to overcome, Robertson’s men have now opened up a six-point gap over Dundee and remain four clear of third-placed Ayr.
Having made the play-offs last year only to lose out to United in the semi-final, they look well placed to improve upon that. Not that they are conceding defeat yet in the fight to win the league outright, of course.
‘We have to think positive and believe that we have a good enough squad to go up,’ said Keatings. ‘We need to see where we finish and take it from there.
‘Promotion is our aim either way. We either want to stay second or close the gap. But we just need to get as many points as we can.
‘We just focus on ourselves every single week.
‘In this league, anything can happen, you see it many times that teams can have a strong lead but then lose a lot of points.
‘It’s a hard league to get out of and it can still go the full way.
‘Last week (a home loss to Arbroath) was obviously disappointing, our worst performance this season.
‘We knew that this was a massive game for us to bounce back in.
‘We came here and showed our character and got the win.’
DUNDEE (4-4-2): Hamilton; Kerr, Meekings, McGhee, Marshall; McGowan, Robertson, Dorrans, Mackie (Todd 62); Johnson (Cunningham 85) Hemmings. Subs not used: Ferrie, Forster, Byrne, Moore, Cameron. Booked: Johnson, McGhee.
INVERNESS CT (4-4-1-1): Ridgers; Rooney, Donaldson, McHattie, Tremarco; Trafford (Carson 56) Vincent, Doran, Storey (McKay 46); Keatings; Todorov (White 72). Subs not used: Mackay, McCart, Curry, MacGregor.
Booked: None. Man of the match: Aaron Doran. Referee: Don Robertson. Attendance: 5,040.