Dundee’s Kevin Holt admits new team-mate Kevin Gomis has not allowed a language barrier to be an obstacle to fluency on the football field.
The French centre-half only signed for the Dark Blues two Fridays ago but was chosen to make his debut from the start against Motherwell on Saturday.
The 27-year-old produced an outstanding performance alongside Darren O’Dea at the heart of the Dundee defence as he helped Paul Hartley’s side secure a hard-earned point.
Gomis brings an obvious commanding physical presence to the team but Holt admitted he and the rest of the squad have been equally impressed by the Frenchman’s ability with the ball at his feet.
Holt said: “Kevin was really good. It was a great debut. Jules (Etxabeguren) has done well over the last few games but Kevin is a different player.
“You can see he is a big boy. He’s composed with the ball at this feet and he settled us. He doesn’t speak much English but he understands more than he speaks. So when you speak to him, he knows what to do.
“He and Darren have an understanding and his English will get better. He’s staying with Faissal El Bahktaoui and his second job here now is a translator!
“Kevin’s a big boy and I’m sure he will do well for us.
“The first day we saw him we knew he was a player. He was strong, quick and he ticked all the boxes.
“He didn’t wipe anyone out in training or anything like that. It was just his ability with the ball at his feet.
“That caught the eye more than his crunching tackles but I don’t think anyone would fancy getting into a 50-50 with him.”
Gomis had to find feet and fast on Saturday as the home side made the better start, dominating possession and territory but it was the Dark Blues who had the first big chance of the game in the 20th minute when El Bakhtaoui hit a low, angled drive which Motherwell keeper Craig Samson could only parry.
The Dundee striker pounced on the rebound but a defender made a vital last-ditch intervention to block his second attempt.
Motherwell’s Scott McDonald then tried his luck from 25 yards with his dipping shot flying just over Dundee keeper Scott Bain’s bar.
The Dark Blues upped the tempo in the second 45 and looked a team transformed.
El Bakhtaoui was a constant thorn in the Steelmen’s side while Michael Duffy looked dangerous but the Dark Blues could not translate their dominance into goals and had to leave Fir Park happy with a point.
On balance of play, Holt felt Dundee could have won the game but as a defender, he was pleased with the clean sheet.
He said: “It was a game of two halves. We weren’t very good in the first half. They put us under pressure, although they didn’t create many clear-cut chances.
“We created the best chance through Faissal but the keeper made a good save. We were better after the break and the game opened up a bit more. If we had taken a chance we could have won the game but I suppose we are happy with the clean sheet.”
One of the reasons for Dundee’s goal remaining intact was, of course, Bain.
He did not have a lot to do but when he did – for instance in the 73rd minute when he dived and held a rasping long-range effort from Lionel Ainsworth – it was top-class keeping and Holt for one is amazed his team-mate was not called up to the Scotland squad for this week’s World Cup qualifier in Malta.
Holt said: Scott’s a great keeper – you see that in the games. He’s confident and his shot-stopping is great. There was a shot heading for the top corner today and he not only saved it but caught it.
“He’s got all the attributes. Scotland have a good few keepers but I am surprised he’s not in squad.”
This is Holt’s second season at Dens after joining Dundee from Queen of the South last summer and he is determined that he and the team will keep progressing.
He said: “Last year was a bit stop-start for me as well as the team. If the team does well then that should help me do well.
“I would hope we could reach the top six. We were a game away last season. I want to keep improving and clean sheets will help. Having a settled back four helps too.”
