Dundee boss Neil McCann is facing a midfield crisis for tonight’s game against Celtic after Paul McGowan was shown a straight red card following the final whistle of Saturday’s defeat at Dens to Motherwell for gesturing to the away fans.
The 30-year-old had already been subbed in the 87th minute but referee Alan Muir then dismissed McGowan at the end of the game.
The SFA have confirmed it was for an A5 offence for, “Offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures” and carries a one-game ban effective immediately.
That means McGowan will miss this evening’s match at Parkhead against the champions and he will join fellow midfielder Glen Kamara – who was already banned – in the stands.
Both have been virtually ever present in the Dundee engine room this season with McCann also confirming that striker Marcus Haber has had surgery on his troublesome back and it is unlikely the big Canadian will return this season.
The manager said: “We have a full squad apart from the suspensions – Paul McGowan and Glen Kamara – as well as Marcus Haber who has had an operation on his back.
“We will just have to cope with it.
“We’re still disappointed (from Saturday) because I felt we dominated the Motherwell match only to lose.
“In saying that, we’re still really looking forward to the game at Parkhead.
“I watched Celtic’s game with Aberdeen on Sunday and it was just Celtic wasn’t it?
“Aberdeen came up with a system to try and frustrate but you can see that eventually if you sit deep Celtic can find a way.
“Even when you look at the energy late on from (Kieran) Tierney to win the match with that second goal was exceptional so we know it will be a tough game for us.”
Dundee have already visited Parkhead this season back in October, losing 1-0 to an Olivier Ntcham strike.
In what has been a familiar story this campaign, the Dark Blues did have opportunities to take something from the game but they failed to capitalise.
McCann added: “It’s not just against the Old Firm when you have to take your chances.
“If you look at the games we’ve been playing recently it proves you have to or else you’ll come a cropper.
“Looking at Motherwell in isolation, the goals we’ve conceded against them this season have been really poor, and we’ve passed up some amazing chances.
“But you can’t keep feeling sorry for yourself because we’re going to Celtic Park which is another place where we’ve created gilt-edged chances and paid the price for not taking them.
“We can take heart from going there earlier in the season and playing so well.
“We went toe-to-toe with Celtic and I think we were really brave that day. We should have had a penalty when Jack Hendry was taken out.
“In the next game here, Celtic pressed us while they didn’t at Parkhead so I’ve learned from that.
“So we have worked on a few things going into this one.”
McCann acknowledged that if his players are to have a chance of causing an upset tonight, they have to be courageous.
He added: “There are different ways of being brave. You can’t just play four up front and get spanked in midfield.
“On the other hand, we’re not going there just to shut up shop as that’s not the way I want to be.
“We’ve come up with something as to how we want to play so hopefully we can keep it tight as well as cause them problems.
“I wouldn’t say Celtic are more vulnerable these days at all. They’ve proved they’re the best team in the country by a distance.
“You can’t just go into it thinking they’re weak. They’re a top-class side and we’ll need to be at our best to beat them.”
