Dundee have had a dress rehearsal for Scottish Cup clash against League One Airdrieonians, says boss Gary Bowyer

Gary Bowyer says Dundee had a dress rehearsal for their Scottish Cup clash with League One Airdrieonians last week.

Expectations were high against the Championship’s bottom side Hamilton last time out.

The Dark Blues were big favourites at home to a team struggling at the foot of the division.

However, the game itself did not play out like that with Accies coming away from Dens Park feeling unfortunate not to pick up a result.

Dundee, though, got the three points thanks to Paul McMullan’s close-range winner to extend their winning run to three games.

And Bowyer has warned his side they can’t let standards slip if they want to make it four wins in a row in another game where expectations are high.

“We had a dress rehearsal, in a sense, last week,” the Dundee boss said.

“We were perceived to have beaten Hamilton before we played them. The expectation was we would beat them because they were bottom but the game was tough.

“The message for the players was the same this week.

“We want to be in the next round, as do Airdrieonians. They will have no fear and it’s a free hit for them.

“I’ve watched them and like the way they play.

“I know the goalkeeper, Dean Lyness; he played for me at Blackpool when we won promotion.

“We expect a tough game.”

Value

With that in mind, Bowyer says he’ll be going with a strong starting XI.

Injuries are biting, with top scorer Zach Robinson ruled out.

But the carrot of a cup run and a plum tie in the next round should be enough to motivate the players, insists the Dens boss.

If not, the stick of avoiding a cup upset will do.

“In my experience in the FA Cup, I was fortunate as Blackburn boss to get to the quarter-finals and took Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool team to a replay,” Bowyer recalled.

“I valued it then.

“And in League One and League Two it was always a good source of income for us to have a good run and you always want to make a bit of history and to get through.

“But, at the same time, I’ve been a victim of being knocked out by a lower-league club. You don’t like that.

“We already had a good cup run this year and, from a financial point of view, going to Rangers was massive for us.

“I always feel, when you play against higher-division opposition, it gives you a real insight into the players and who steps up to it.

“We want to try to get through and to get a big draw.

“And we want to keep the momentum going so we’ll be strong.”