Manager James McPake spoke to the press on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s trip to Firhill.
Dundee face Partick Thistle on Saturday and could be without a number of first team players through injury. Jordan McGhee and Declan McDaid both left the pitch with knocks in the win over Dunfermline and the manager confirmed they are both doubtful for the weekend. He said, “Both are struggling as is Cammy Kerr. Josh McPake will be out for the foreseeable future also, he is back Rangers getting treatment. We are a bit light at the minute but fingers crossed come Friday. It’s a bit of a worry this week to have so many out but we are hopefully Gerry (Docherty) can get some of them back out on the grass on Friday.”
Thistle come into the match on the back of two victories and the manager said of Ian McCall’s team, “They’ll be confident, they’ve had two good wins in a row and because they beat us at Dens. I don’t think it really matters who you play in this league, I think everybody believes they can go and beat any opposition on any day. As long as we look after ourselves then we’ll be OK.”
Despite victory over Dunfermline there was a frustration in the dressing room at full time having conceded twice against 10 men, “The players know as much as anybody when it hasn’t been good enough for a period of a game. It’s good to see that but I don’t think there would have been many players who would have come in after the last 20 minutes of that game happy.”
“They are happy when we show them the stuff on the Monday on the video, when you do see a lot of positives, but it’s good that they are coming and wanting to do better and disappointed with themselves but we need to make sure we take that feeling into Saturday and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
17 year old Fin Robertson and Paul McGowan returned to the starting line up against Dunfermline alongside Graham Dorrans in midfield and all three earned praise from the boss, “Fin’s been great all season. I thought he was really good on Saturday in that role. He allows the others to go play. Graham is now fit and you know what you are getting with Paul every time he plays. He’s probably been unfortunate at times to be left out. The way he trains and the way he plays he is a leader for us. Above all else he’s got real quality and he’s also scored a few goals which is pleasing.”
“I think the balance was really good as a team. One the strikers dropping in also, I don’t think we can overlook the job that they are both doing to help the team. Collectively as a team I was really pleased with the way we played for the first 65 minutes, both in attack and defence. We had one blip with the first goal but as a team I thought we were really good for the first 65 minutes. It’s now getting the consistency over the 90 minutes.”
Subscribers can watch pre match video interviews with James and Graham Dorrans on DeeTV – click here
