It was an incredibly bitter-sweet experience for Dundee interim boss Neil McCann last night.
Before kick-off against Inverness, he and everyone connected with the club were still delighted that the Dark Blues’ Premiership survival had been assured following Hamilton’s defeat at Ross County on Tuesday.
However, McCann was ultimately left desperately disappointed with the performance against the Highland strugglers that resulted in a 2-0 defeat at Dens – the first loss since McCann took temporary charge.
Caley raced into a two-goal lead through Billy Mckay and Alex Fisher and Dundee simply never recovered.
McCann said: “I am so disappointed. We lost two sloppy goals tonight.
“I think it affected the crowd, I think it affected the mind-set of the boys.
“The biggest thing I am most disappointed in as well as the result is that they have allowed themselves that type of performance.
“I cannot speak highly enough of them in the first three games in charge.
“They have got themselves safe from a very precarious position.
“But on the whole it is a night of massive disappointment.
“I said to them before the game that I didn’t care we were safe and that was pretty much been the message – I wanted to win all the games we were playing.”
McCann added: “You can say because we are safe you can take the eye off the ball.
“But I absolutely didn’t want that. The team all week building up were absolutely of the same opinion.
“I am delighted for the club (that they are safe) and delighted for the fans. I am so proud of the players who have got us into this position.
“So the overriding feeling tonight is one of massive disappointment. I am delighted we have retained our Premiership status but that’s not good enough certainly if we want to make an impact and not be in this sort of position.
“Nobody is on their holidays here or has been on their holidays and I have to say that categorically.
“I didn’t see that coming.
“We have a very difficult game against Hamilton now.
“The boys are gutted. There’s nobody going about cracking open bottles of champagne saying we are safe. I know they are hurting and I am hurting.
“But we will come again Saturday.”
Inverness boss Richie Foran insisted that all the pressure was now on their relegation rivals Hamilton ahead of Saturday’s final fixtures.
He said: “All in all it was a wonderful performance.
“I think that all the pressure that was on our shoulders goes on the Hamilton players.”
