Neil McCann has admitted a failure to even go close with clear-cut chances cost Dundee dearly as they went down narrowly to Aberdeen on Saturday.
The Dark Blues lost out to a late Gary Mackay-Steven penalty at Dens Park and, while he had no complaints about the decision, Neil was left frustrated as he saw three clear-cut opportunities squandered at the other end.
Twice Sofien Moussa blasted the ball well over when given a sight of goal, while strike partner Jean Mendy fired wide.
And if the other areas of their game earned praised from the manager, he knows misses like that have cost the team dearly in two defeats so far.
That’s why he’s looking to add another striker to his squad and Shrewsbury front man Sam Jones watched the game from the main stand.
A five-figure deal has been agreed with the Shrews and the 26-year-old will be signed up this week if he can agree personal terms.
Addressing those misses first, Neil admits his front two should have done better.
“When you create three, I would call them 100% chances through on goal, and you don’t work the goalkeeper once, that’s where you fall down,” he said. “It’s sore because outside the chances they don’t take, I think the forward work was exceptional. Moussa got absolutely battered at times but his hold up play was great. Mendy worked his socks off up there.
“But you have to work the keeper and they know that. It’s not that I’m having a go at them, they understand that.
“I do think we need help in that department. There’s no guarantees I bring a striker in and he’s going to do better but we need to bring players in for those areas.
“That being said we do work. The guys just need to slow down, the most important thing they need to do is make the keeper make a save.”
As for the goal that won the game, Neil conceded after initial doubts he agreed Bobby Madden’s call to award a penalty against Genseric Kusunga for handling a Niall McGinn corner was correct.
“Just to address the penalty, I’ve seen it, it’s a penalty,” he added.
“At the time I wasn’t sure. I went to Bobby to get his opinion on it at the end of the game and regardless of how close Gensi is, he felt it was a penalty. I’ve seen it now and I agree, his hand’s up there.”
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