On a rain drenched pitch with the heavens lashing down upon Dens Park, Dundee served up a damp squib in a very poor draw against Hamilton.
The opening minutes of the match favoured Dundee and we looked the more likely to make the breakthrough but Hamilton had other ideas and made their way up to our goal to take an undeserving lead.
Even though it was against the run of play, no one can deny that it was an absolute peach of a goal and there was no way Scott Bain was keeping it out. In fact, I think everyone knew where it was heading as soon as it left the young lads foot.
We responded well by levelling the score just a few minutes later. A cracking corner from Danny Williams met Mark O’Hara’s right foot near the back post area and his shot evaded both the Accies defence and keeper. We had pulled a goal back quickly and now it was game on.
Or so we thought.
The truth is, despite a few chances, we failed to muster up any real threat towards the Hamilton goal for the most of the match and they looked the more likely to grab the win which they could very well have done on a good few occasions. They will have felt hard done by when the final whistle went whilst the Dundee team, management and fans were relived that we got a point. Even Hartley himself laid into the team and said ‘We were lucky to get away with a point.’
We just never clicked on the night. Passes were misplaced, second to every ball and we could not create much up front to trouble them. The conditions would have no doubt contributed to some of this but Hamilton dealt with it well and the weather rarely troubled them.
Hopefully we can just put it down as a bad performance and that is that. We were missing a few key players and the bench was sparse of potential game changers and littered with a few youth players to fill the spaces.
I firmly believe that we have an excellent squad of players and despite already having played a good few games together, they may still be taking their time to get to know how each another play. Our whole style of play has changed since the sales of influential players Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart but we will get there, I am sure of that.
What is evident is the need to strengthen up at the back first and foremost. We quickly announced the signing of Kevin Gomis from French club Nice, less than an hour after the final whistle and looking at the shape of him, he could be that imposing figure we need at centre back along with Darren O’Dea who was my man of the match on Friday. Of course, I have yet to see him play or any footage of him from his previous clubs so my assumptions of the player are fruitless.
We had a bid for St Mirren’s Stevie Mallan thrown out last week but I can see him becoming a Dundee player soon. With our full midfield on the pitch, I think we have a solid engine but we miss that vital bit of creativity that he could supply. Hopefully, we see the club go back with an improved offer this week and get him in a Dundee top.
If anyone is unfamiliar with Mallan and I am sure most of the readers down South are, just have a look at his wonder goal against Dundee from a few seasons ago.
Former Motherwell full back Tom Hatley who played for Śląsk Wrocław last season, has met with the club about a possible move to Dens. He has also spoke with Hibernian. He’s a player that’s always impressed me so I would be highly impressed if we managed to sign him up.
So, what has been said on the rumours front? Out of favour Hearts striker Juanma is a name that has been mentioned in the press but that interest has been discredited. We all know that this can all easily change in the world of football. He was due to sign for Belgium club Waasland-Beveren but that looks like it may be off the cards. there has also been whispers that the manager has been looking at a few Celtic players on loan and ex Dundee United man Ryan Dow but I can’t see much truth in them.
These are all just rumours of course or as one of my mates call it, ‘Taxi drevher pish’
Next up we visit Fir Park, the home of Motherwell. We have had a fairly decent record against the Steelmen in recent times and hopefully we can improve on that.
We will not know much about team news until around Thursday or Friday but hopefully we will see the return of Paul McGowan, Michael Duffy and Craig Wighton to the squad.
In summary, we gained a good point with a poor performance. We know we can do better and still need to strengthen areas of the squad. This has hopefully started with the signing of Gomis in defence. We had a bid rejected for a talented youngster. ‘Taxi drevher pish’ rumours about new signings. I could have probably saved you the time reading by posting this paragraph first but what’s the fun in that?
Until next week, MON THE DEE!
