Gary Bowyer hails Dundee ‘fight and spirit’ after sensational comeback at Partick Thistle as he pokes fun at Cammy Kerr celebration

By George Cran

November 5 2022, 5:58pm

Dundee boss Gary Bowyer. Image: SNS

Dundee boss Gary Bowyer insists there was no “ranting and raving” at half-time before his side’s stunning second-half comeback sealed a 3-2 victory at Partick Thistle.

The Dark Blues trailed the Jags 2-0 at the break thanks to Harry Milne’s double with the visitors offering very little as an attacking force.

Bowyer, though, changed approach for the second 45 as he threw on three substitutes in strikers Zach Robinson and Zak Rudden alongside Max Anderson as well as moving to a back three.

Robinson and Anderson played key roles in the three second-half goals with the former making it 2-1 before playing a part in Ryan Sweeney’s first goal of the season.

Zach Robinson challenges Partick goalkeeper David Mitchell and finds the net (Image: SNS).

Anderson then laid on the winner for Cammy Kerr to seal a victory that moves the Dee three points behind leaders Ayr United.

“I didn’t think we were very good first half so we made changes, changed the shape,” Bowyer explained.

“We demanded a response. There was no ranting and raving at half-time, we were calm with them and spoke about playing for pride and getting the next goal.

“We did all of those things second half.

Cammy Kerr and Aaron Muirhead tussle in the net after a goal with the Partick man seeing red (Image: SNS).

“We managed the game especially well when they lost the man and went down to 10 men at 2-2.

“We made them run. Our fitness levels are incredible and I think that really came to the fore late on.”

‘Massive effort’

Kerr’s strike with 14 minutes to go after the Jags had been reduced to 10 men through Aaron Muirhead’s red card sparked jubilant celebrations in the away end.

Bowyer joked he wants to see more from his full-back as he praised the battling qualities of his team in the second half.

“Cammy needs to work his celebrations, he can’t knee slide properly,” Bowyer added.

Cammy Kerr is mobbed by team-mates after his winner against Partick Thistle (Image: SNS).

“If you can’t do one on that pitch today you’re never able to do one.

“But seriously it was a massive effort from everyone second half. We’ve got to be better than what we were first half and use this now to really kick on.

“It’s always good to come back and win from 2–0 but we shouldn’t be giving teams that start and that’s the work we’ll be looking at this week.

“I’ve been speaking about the fight and spirit and shift in mentality and we’ve seen it again second half, fair play to them.

“You use that as evidence and you put it in your bank if you ever need it again in that scenario.”