This season has provided a clean slate for many at Dens Park.
Dundee have a new manager, a new training ground, some new players and a new outlook.
Last season, though, still rankles for some.
Supporters won’t forget it in a while anyway.
And that’s something Luke McCowan is keen to make up for in the upcoming Championship campaign.
The Dark Blues and McCowan have already made positive strides towards that, though.
Unbeaten in their pre-season friendlies, Dundee have also racked up two comfortable 3-0 victories in the Premier Sports Cup.
Those matches against Hamilton and Stranraer have seen six different scorers as well with McCowan adding goal No 3 at Stair Park with a fine curled effort.
‘We were better than that’
As much as the early cup games are useful, however, the main challenge this season is promotion from the Championship.
“I think everyone’s motivation is to get ourselves back where we think we belong,” the former Ayr United man said.
“We didn’t show that as well as we could have last year.
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“Now, it’s about proving the point this year. We’re not making any excuses and are going into this league with the mindset of taking each game as it comes.
“Last year we didn’t do ourselves justice – we knew we were better than that.
“This year we want to give it back to the fans and give them the best year possible.
“If it is to win the league then that’s what we aim to do.
“We just need to be positive, work harder than anyone else in the league and I’m sure that will come.”
Goals and assists
McCowan’s debut season at Dens Park saw the 24-year-old finish the campaign as the squad’s second top scorer.
That came after a flurry in the first half of the season.
And he’s determined to add to those five goals in the Championship challenge to come.
“I’m looking forward to the season, looking forward to going back to a few places,” McCowan added.
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“Obviously I played so many years in this division and personally, I just want to keep scoring and setting up as many goals as I can.
“I’m feeling fit.
“It’s the best feeling getting a goal early as well. The manager and Bill have been good with me, they are telling me just to be patient.
“I’m quite bad for being harsh on myself. Sometimes I need to remember we are only at the start of a season, everything will click – Saturday showed that.”
Insight
Next up is a clash against another Championship rival in newly-promoted Queen’s Park on Tuesday night at Ochilview.
The Dark Blues and the Spiders are locked on six points each after two games played alongside Hamilton Accies, who have played three of their four matches.
It promises to be a crucial contest in the race to finish top of the group and qualify for the knockout stages.
“That gives us a good chance to see what they are like, a little insight ahead of the league,” McCowan added.
“But we know it will be a tough game.
“They will make it tough and it’ll be a different challenge from Saturday.
“They’ve come right from the bottom, adding a lot of players and staff members and improving a lot around their club.
“They’ll be positive as well – we just need to take it to them.”
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