Dundee’s test against Jon Dahl Tomasson’s was the perfect final preparation for the season ahead says boss Gary Bowyer.
The new Dens Park gaffer took on his old side, where he managed between 2013 and 2015, in a final friendly of the summer.
And he was delighted with what he saw from his team as they fought back from a goal behind to draw 1-1 thanks to Alex Jakubiak’s first half strike.
A youthful starting XI saw three trialists on from the first whistle in midfield – Kyle Barker and Tyler Frost had featured at Montrose while Callum Rowe made his first appearance.
It was Rowe who inadvertently headed beyond Dundee goalie Harry Sharp to give Blackburn the lead after they had dominated the opening stages.
‘Showed us where we want to get to’
But Bowyer insists that sort of game was exactly what he wanted to see his side face.
“It was a great game for us. Obviously we have to thank Jon Dahl Tomasson and his staff for coming and playing the game,” the Dundee boss said.
“Also the away support who made the journey, fair play to them for travelling that distance on a Wednesday night.
“The game was exactly what we hoped for. They are a very well coached, strong team who showed us where we want to get to in and out of possession.
“We knew that would be a challenge, physically, for us tonight. We prepared to be without the ball and it was a good exercise for that.
“Our team hasn’t played together before. We had three trialists in there and Tyler French making his debut, it was good to get him minutes.
“We scored a really good goal with the positivity that Jak can produce.
“No injuries, minutes in the legs and we looked better again from Saturday’s game.
“So, a really pleasing evening.”
Trialists
Now Bowyer says it is time to assess whether Barker, Frost or Rowe have done enough to earn a contract at Dens Park.
Danny Devine, meanwhile, has left the club following his trial period.
“I thought all of them acquitted themselves well,” Bowyer added.
“They have done in all the time they have been with us, in the way they have conducted themselves.
“Obviously now I’ll have discussions with the coaching staff and talk about what we do with them.
“They been with us two games, this was Callum Rowe’s first, but I don’t believe in having trialists for weeks upon weeks if you are already close to your decision.
“We’ll see where we go.”
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