Steven Pressley’s reign at Dundee began with a 2-0 victory at wind-swept Arbroath.
Simon Murray saw a first-half penalty saved as he battled to keep the ball on the spot with wind howling across Gayfield.
In the second half Drey Wright scored direct from a corner kick, again with wind playing a part, before trialist Tommy McDermott netted a second from a Chespi throughball.
The Dark Blues finished the contest with a host of youngsters on the pitch, some getting their first taste of senior football.
Pressley admits it is early days for his side but he was delighted with the application of his players.
Charlie Reilly injury
There was one big downside, however, as Charlie Reilly was taken to hospital in the first half.
After rotten luck with injuries, the forward burst into the area to win the penalty but damaged his shoulder in the process.
“I have to say I am really disappointed. I was really excited about working with Charlie,” Pressley said.
“He still has a bit to go in terms of fitness he really caught my eye in the first 10 days.
“It looks like he is going to be out for a prolonged period of time again, which is a real blow.
“It is his shoulder and it could be a dislocation, so it could be a prolonged period out.”
Tommy McDermott
Another setback for the side came in the shape of trialist McDermott.
After arriving at Dundee for a two-week trial, he is returning to Burnley immediately after the game.
“He scored a good goal but Burnley have called him back,” Pressley revealed.
“He’s driving down the road today.
“Tommy is one they want to use this summer but we’ll see what happens at the end of the window.
“He could possibly come back up. Tommy is a great kid and he showed his quality today.
“We’ll see how that develops.”
‘I got my wish’
Pressley, though, was all smiles at full-time after seeing his team come through a match against a Championship outfit in very testing conditions.
Though the wind was not conducive to free-flowing football, he was pleased to see his players put under that pressure.
“The feeling is we are 100 miles from where we want to be,” he added.
“I spoke about principles. We saw some of them but it was difficult to implement them.
“I said to the players before the game I got my wish because it was windy.
“I quite like adversity in pre-season. Teams are built on it.
“Sometimes when everything is perfect you don’t get a challenge.
“It was a good challenge and we got a good reaction from the group.
“I was also really proud to see our young players play in the second half.
“I love seeing that.
“I’ve spoken about the job Scott Robertson and Stephen Wright are doing with the academy and the young players acquitted themselves very well.”
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