Dundee interim boss Neil McCann insists there will be no easing off against Inverness tomorrow night at Dens – even if his side’s Premiership safety is already assured before kick-off.
With the Dark Blues five points clear of Hamilton in the relegation play-off spot, if Accies lose against Ross County this evening in the Highlands, then Dundee will definitely be playing Premiership football next season.
McCann’s men drew against the Staggies at home on Saturday but the manager is demanding that even if Jim McIntyre’s side do them a favour against Accies, it will not change what he wants from his players against Inverness.
When asked about the possible ramifications of the Hamilton result on Dundee’s match, McCann said: “It doesn’t have any bearing on it.
“It would be nice if we went into the Inverness match in a comfortable position but to be honest as I have said so many times now – and it is probably becoming boring – we are just looking to win every game.
“The lads were really disappointed (after Ross County game).
“I said to them this morning when I spoke to them that I was pleased in a way by that.
“I was disappointed not getting three points as we set out to do but I was pleased to see them in the dressing-room.
“They were down but it is a different down.
“That says to me how far they have come in a short space of time. They were disappointed that they hadn’t grabbed three points which says a lot about them.
“So the game coming up on Wednesday night, we are looking for three points.
“We have set ourselves targets and the targets remain.”
Almost 7,000 fans flocked to Dens on Saturday for what was billed as McCann’s “homecoming” game.
The manager was delighted to see so many in the ground but he admitted the turn-out initially sparked some nerves amongst his players.
He said: “I could see from the side of the pitch that we weren’t playing the way we had before.
“But I wasn’t too animated or upset as I knew it was nerves.
“A big support had rocked up to get behind the team with huge expectations and I could feel a little nervous energy from them.
“It definitely had an effect on our boys.
“I think once we got a grip of the game around 25 minutes or so, I could see things turning a wee bit.
“There was an injury and I got them in just to have a few words with them and I think when we went back out Cammy Kerr sparked a lot.
“When he started rampaging up the right, our game began clicking into motion.
“From that moment on until the end of the match, I thought we were in total control.
“The turnaround and the spirit of the boys pleased me a lot.
“It suggested they had turned the corner.
“The support was great and the numbers who came in here on Saturday were superb.
“I hope we can get the majority back on Wednesday night. Hopefully the fans enjoyed the way we played.”
That style of play was tweaked to deal with the particular challenges a big County side pose with McCann explaining: “We were playing out from the back a wee bit.
“As I have said to everybody, sometimes you have to change the way you have to play.
“We had to play it out because of the size County have at the back.
“They are also fairly robust through the middle so we had to find a way of getting out.
“The fans were probably thinking, ‘I’m not too sure about this’.
“But gradually once they started seeing it was coming off, certainly in the second-half, they began to relax a wee bit.
“Once we got our game going, it definitely worked and the good thing is we are still unbeaten.”
Interim boss McCann has been consistent regarding questions about his future and whether he would like the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
However, when asked if he was missing being a pundit on Sky Sports, he smiled and said: “Listen, the message has been pretty constant. I have loved every second of this job but I also love my job at Sky.
“There will be no questions answered on my future until I get us into a position where the target is met – what I have set the guys.
“First and foremost that Dundee are in the Premiership next year.
“So it would be wrong of me to start speaking when we have a job to do.”
