Five Things Dundee Fans Can Take From The Home Defeat To Kilmarnock

[JoeCovenant]

Dundee suffered their second home defeat of the season at the weekend as Kilmarnock came, saw and conquered at Dens Park.

But what did we learn from the 90 minutes? Here’s writer Liam Kennedy’s take on the 2-1 loss.

Filling a team full of strikers doesn’t work

Dundee had four attackers on the field – none of them really made an impact

Who’d have thought putting four strikers in a team with just two midfielders, both with distinctly attacking tendencies, wouldn’t work?

Well it definitely didn’t as the Dark Blues failed to get any kind of foothold in the game.

Rhys Healey added a whole lot of hard work and took his goal really well but it was maybe a step too far to throw him in as well as the other three – Kane Hemmings, Rory Loy and Greg Stewart.

One probably has to make way in future should Healey keep his spot.

Does Hemmings fit into the XI?

Kane Hemmings has gone off the boil a bit after an impressive start to his Dundee career

Could that striker to make way be Hemmings? It could well be.

The former Rangers, Cowdenbeath and Barnsley frontman got off to a flyer in the early stages of the season but in terms of goalscoring he’s gone off the boil a bit in recent weeks.

Manager Paul Hartley hooked him in the second half so it’s not out of all realms of possibility that he’s benched for the next outing.

Harkins’ inconsistency is a worry

Gary Harkins looks like he’s missing teammate Kevin Thomson alongside him

He just doesn’t look like the same player without Kevin Thomson alongside him. Plain and simple.

Gary Harkins went from being decent at Hamilton in the holding role to poor against his former employers Killie.

A fit, firing Harkins is an absolute asset to Dundee. He needs to refind some of his form of old, in a position of a lot more responsibility.

Meggatt thrown in at the deep end

It was an afternoon to forget for Daryll Meggatt. (Picture by David Young)

It’s fair to say it was a tough day at the office for Daryll Meggatt at the weekend.

He struggled with the pace of the game and was a lucky boy when he got a booking for stopping a Killie through ball with his arm.

In his favour, despite his size he deals with the physical side of things well.

It’s far too early to say he’s out of his depth, like some punters are expressing. But the fact he came off at the break shows he was finding things hard.

McGowan worth a recall

Paul McGown, seen here on the receiving end of a crunching tackle, was in the thick of the action when he was subbed on.

He might not be the most creative, nor is he the best tackler. But what Paul McGowan gives to Dundee’s XI can be invaluable.

He’s tenacious, full of energy and running, as fit as they come and never gives anyone a minute’s peace, whoever side they’re on.

Every team needs a McGowan in it. And his return to fitness just seems to have come at the right time for the gaffer.

View the full article