Delighted that even ahead of the game we had a chance to go seven points clear – McInnes
Following their stalemate against Motherwell, Derek McInnes called for “perspective” on his side’s positive start to the Scottish Premiership season. Speaking with the media at full-time, the Hearts boss remains content with their opening fourteen league matches. “Delighted, even ahead of the game, we had a chance to go seven points clear, even saying that as a Hearts manager, that nearly into December, a chance to go seven points clear, there has to be some sort of perspective.” “These boys are human. They work hard to care for the club, to try and get results. So there’s no real criticism for me. There are certain things I thought we could have done better today, and there’s a bit of frustration towards that, but we’re doing a lot right, we’ve got a good thing going here at the club.” “It’s important we try and win a game of football on Wednesday. If we can do that, then we get into next weekend’s game in a decent place and a good position.” The manager revealed that he had urged his side to carry more “belief” after a goalless first period. “I thought we had some good moments (in the second half). We pressed well. I thought that in the first half, we tried to fill the midfield. We were really strong with our work. I thought we tried to stop Motherwell getting any sort of rhythm. The keepers didn’t really have a lot to do. I know that the goal was chopped off, but rightly, it was offside.” “I thought we were really good when we did switch to play and moved the ball that but quicker and strikers linked to play, I thought we arrived outside the box with a good few opportunities, and we weren’t on point enough with that.” Hearts remain top of the Scottish Premiership, the 0-0 draw moves them five points clear of Celtic, who have two games in hand. “I thought we’re good enough for a point. I don’t think we’re good enough to get three points, and that’s disappointing. It’s the last couple of games now where we’re an attacking threat, which has loads of plaudits, loads of praise, and rightly so, both individually and as a team” “I think in that sense, a point on the road at Motherwell in isolation, a clean sheet isn’t the worst result as long as you win your home games. But in the context of not winning at Aberdeen, drawing against Dundee United, I think it just feels a bit more disappointment as a consequence.” Hearts are still without central player Beni Baningime, who has missed three consecutive games with a hamstring injury. The Hearts manager referenced the “control” that the midfielder brings. “He can pass, as we know. He looks after the ball. He is very defensive-minded as well. He can snuff out attacks. So you get a bit of both as a central midfield player. You get good ball retention, good experience. Can play in tight areas and protect the back lot.” The Tynecastle outfit return to league action on Wednesday against Kilmarnock, before a top of the table clash with Celtic the following Sunday.
Dundee 3-1 St Mirren: Dundee claim vital win over St Mirren
Dundee ran out 3-1 winners over St Mirren on Saturday afternoon to end a run of four defeats in the Scottish Premiership. An own goal from Alex Gogic and goals from Drey Wright and Joe Westley gave Dundee a much-needed victory and lifted them up to ninth in the Premiership table. It was the visitors, St Mirren, who started the brighter of the two sides and looked a constant threat from set pieces in the early stages. They began to create a few half chances inside the Dundee box; however, Luke Graham did well defensively to clear any danger. Dundee’s first chance of the match came on the 15th minute mark when Drey Wright’s delivery into the box was met by Joe Westley; however, the Dundee winger was unable to get a proper connection onto the ball to trouble Shamal George, as he comfortably collected. Following this, St Mirren carved out two chances of their own in quick succession. The first coming when Marcus Fraser looked destined to head beyond Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken until a Dundee body got back in time to clear the ball over the bar. The second coming when Conor McMenamin whipped a powerful ball across the face of the goal for Dan Nlundulu, whose effort sailed narrowly wide of goal. St Mirren had the lead on the 25th minute. Slack passing from Dundee defender Clark Robertson within his own half allowed Mikael Mandron to drive forward with the ball and rifle an effort from distance past McCracken to give his side a deserved lead. Dundee wasted no time in responding to going behind as they had an equaliser within minutes, with an Alex Gogic own goal putting them on level terms. Hearts loanee Yan Dhanda let fly from range; Gogic attempted to put a leg out in hope of blocking the shot; however, all it did was take the ball past the helpless Shamal George. It was an end-to-end affair now with both teams showing a real desire to get forward. Dundee came from behind to lead with five minutes remaining, as Drey Wright’s thunderstrike from the corner of the box went in off the post. Shamal George looked to get a touch to it; however, he couldn’t keep it out as Dundee went into the break ahead. The tempo of the game appeared to slow down in the second half; however, Dundee pushed to add to their advantage early on, when Tony Yogane beat his man with a neat piece of skill before crossing high into the Dundee box for Cameron Congreve, whose headed attempt sailed wide of goal. Moments later, Jayden Richardson’s strike for St Mirren from 20 yards out flew just over the crossbar. Richardson was quickly involved up the other end as his clearance was blocked, leaving Simon Murray with freedom to strike, but his effort was tame and went comfortably into the hands of Shamal George. From that point onwards, St Mirren had Dundee pinned back into their own half for much of the second 45, with Dundee unable to get a proper foothold on the game. Frustrations began to grow for St Mirren as they looked to their bench with twenty minutes to go, making a double change with Roland Idowu and Jonay Ayunga coming onto the park, with Conor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron making way. St Mirren continued to pile pressure onto the Dundee backline, but despite Saints controlling possession, Jon McCracken remained untested. With four minutes of additional time to go, Dundee netted a third to all but secure a vital three points for Steven Pressley’s men. Joe Westley’s curling strike from outside the box completed what was a much-improved performance from the Dees.
Dundee v St Mirren Preview
Dundee welcome Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren to Dens Park on Saturday afternoon, with both teams in desperate need of three points. A single point separates these two sides in the Scottish Premiership table, with Dundee sitting in 11th place and St Mirren positioned in ninth. Dundee come into this afternoon’s encounter on the back of a 2-0 away defeat to Hibernian last weekend. Goals from Kieron Bowie and Jamie McGrath meant that Dundee would fall to a fourth consecutive defeat and have also failed to find the back of the net in their last three matches. Victories have been hard to come by for Steven Pressley’s men so far this campaign, having only registered two wins from thirteen matches, both of those coming at Dens Park against Livingston and Celtic respectively. A tough run of games awaits the Dees in the next few weeks, with away trips to Celtic and Livingston and a home match against Aberdeen awaiting Steven Pressley’s side. The visitors, St Mirren, have had their own struggles as of late too, with their last victory coming at the end of September, which was against Dundee, their opponents today. The Buddies are winless in their last six league games, losing five of those, and find themselves two points off the bottom of the table, with only two wins picked up this campaign; however, they have played a game less than Kilmarnock, Dundee and Livingston, who are all below them in the table. Despite their disappointing league form, Stephen Robinson’s men convincingly defeated Motherwell 4-1 at Hampden Park at the start of November to book their place in December’s Scottish League Cup final against Celtic. The Paisley outfit also came into one on the back of a defeat, as they fell to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to champions Celtic last time out after a stunning strike in stoppage time from Callum McGregor ensured Celtic claimed all three points. Previous encounter The last meeting between these came earlier this season, back in September. St Mirren were narrow 1-0 winners that day; a first-half strike from Killian Phillips was the difference between the two sides in a tight encounter. Team news Dundee manager Steven Pressley will have a full squad to pick from for today’s match, with no fresh injury concerns. For St Mirren, they will be missing their captain, as Mark O’Hara misses out with a foot injury. Second choice goalkeeper Ryan Mullen is also unavailable.
