There’s no getting downbeat at Dundee insists manager Gary Bowyer despite a disappointing week for the Dark Blues.
Bowyer’s side picked up just one point from games at Cove Rangers and Arbroath – two of the Championship’s bottom three.
In both of those games, the Dark Blues took an early lead – Max Anderson scoring at Cove before the home side ran out 3-1 winners then Zak Rudden’s opener was cancelled out by Bobby Linn at Gayfield.
Bowyer wants to see his side build on their good starts and he insists the chances are there to do just that.
“That’s part of the learning and work we have to do because the way we’ve started some games has been terrific,” the Dens boss told the Courier.
“Then it’s building on that.
“We have had those opportunities, too. We played Ayr on the telly and went 1-0 up, had the chance to go 2-0 up but didn’t take it.
“That’s the work we need to keep pushing on with, supporting the players to keep doing what they’ve been doing in terms of creating those chances.
“The flip side is the goals we are conceding – some are individual errors but some are unbelievable strikes.
“I feel for the lads in that sense but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to keep going the way we are but be better in both boxes.
“It’s been frightening the number of chances we have created in games.
“We have to keep doing that but be more ruthless.
“At the other end we can defend better.
“We’d be concerned if we weren’t creating those chances.
“We’re not getting too downbeat.”
Niall McGinn
Bowyer was speaking after an open training session at Dens Park followed by the first team taking on 100 kids.
There were no fresh injury concerns after the draw at Arbroath on Saturday while new signing Derick Osei took part as well as returning frontman Alex Jakubiak.
Absent, however, were Zach Robinson and Niall McGinn.
The former had a family matter. When asked about the latter, Bowyer replied: “He’s not part of it at this moment in time.
“He had the opportunity to go and chose not to. We can only choose so many to start, so many on the bench.”
Form suffers another blow
As for the match against 100 kids, Dundee’s form suffered another blow.
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) October 10, 2022
The first team were hammered 10-0 on their own patch in the Dens Park sunshine.
It was, though, a good bit of fun for all involved.
“It was a great day. Days like this are what being a football club is about, the kids loved it, the players loved it,” Bowyer said.
“It’s a really good idea and one I haven’t seen anywhere else.
“I thought it was great.”
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