ames McPake saw his side come away with all three points against Dunfermline at the Kilmac Stadium at Dens Park but spoke about a frustration after the match having seen a 4-1 lead cut to a 4-3 final scoreline.
The manager spoke to DeeTV following the match and said, “The frustrations of the game are that for 65 minutes we were really good. We were a real threat and in control of the football game. Then we had a mad period in a game that we should have been cruising, we let it go.”
“It meant a tense finish but when we strip it back it’s a big three points that we certainly needed.”
“Would I have taken it before the game? Absolutely, but when you are so far in front, which we deserved to be. On the run they are on and the run we were on, the positive is we have come away with three points but there is plenty there we have to work on as a team.”
Dunfermline went down to 10 men when Greg Kiltie saw red after 62 minutes. The visitors struck twice in the next ten minutes but Dundee held out for the win, the manager continued, “It’s about game management. For their second goal, it comes back very easy and it’s a strike I think the goalkeeper should save, and he’s said that. It gives them a way back into the match. It gives them a bit of hope which we should have take away from them but we got through it and we got the three points.”
Jordan Marshall returned to the team after 6 weeks on the sidelines with an injury, the manager was full of praise for the left back, “I thought he was excellent and you can see why we were so desperate to get him back. Last week I thought Sean did ok at Arbroath but I think Marsh has been our most consistent player and our best player this season. He’s only trained two proper days with the squad as well, everything else has been with the physio. We are delighted to have him back.”
There were plenty of positives to take from the match despite it being less comfortable than it should have been late on, the manager went on, “For 65 minutes, we were probably, attacking wise, the best we’ve been in any game. We really controlled it and created real chances. Their keeper had a few good saves but that’s what we need to be for the 94 or 95 minutes, we can’t let that slip.”
“There are loads of positives, I’ll touch on the character again. We conceded and come back out and stick to the game plan and get into a comfortable lead. Jordan McGhee comes off with an injury, I thought he was excellent for the 65 minutes but you are then moving people about but that’s still not an excuse. We should have been better but at the end of the day it’s a big three big points.”