Dundee’s players can expect extra shooting practice in training this week after again showing a lack of punch against Ayr United on Saturday.
Although they did find the back of the net a Jake Hyde equaliser after Michael Moffat gave the visitors the lead manager Barry Smith was again bemoaning their toothlessness.
Inspired by two impressive wingers in Jamie McCluskey and Nicky Riley, Dundee should be scoring more, but are unable to back up their neat play outside the box with similar verve inside it.
On a day they were watched from the stands by Aberdeen-bound Leigh Griffiths and fellow former player Gary Harkins, they must have wished the pair could have pulled on their old jerseys.
That said, it was the heroics of goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert which ultimately won the Honest Men a point. With Dundee pressing in the closing stages Leighton McIntosh was thwarted when the ex-St Johnstone keeper somehow touched his 16-yard shot on to the crossbar and then beat away the rebound from Riley’s head.
Those moments were too few and far between for Smith, although Hyde insisted that they are creating chances.
The Englishman said: “I think at home you have always got to feel that it’s two points dropped. You want to win every game in front of your own fans.”
He added: “There were spells when we were very good, especially in the first half, but we have got a long way to go. Our finishing is one thing we do need to work on but I’m sure it will come. At the end of the day, it’s better to be making chances than not creating them at all.”
Dundee engineered their own downfall at Ayr’s goal, with slack marking allowing substitute Moffat on after just seven minutes for the injured Alan Trouten acres of space to meet Michael McGowan’s cross. He flicked a header past goalkeeper Rab Douglas to knock the Dark Blues out of their stride.
But, to their credit, Dundee hit back through Hyde on the half-hour. It was a fine poacher’s goal and the type Dundee will want to see more of.CamaraderieThe forward, who was a trialist last season before a short spell with Dunfermline, followed in a McCluskey shot which came back off the bar.
Hyde was recommended to the club by full-back Matt Lockwood last season and was in no doubt he wanted to return.
Hyde said: “I think it was always in the back of my mind to come back. I really enjoyed my time here from last season. The camaraderie is still the same. The boys are all together, which makes for a great atmosphere inside the dressing room.”
Smith was not happy with the way his team conceded.
He said: “I was really disappointed with the goal because it was very soft from our point of view. Players are given jobs to do and someone didn’t do theirs.
“But we had more than enough possession and chances to win the game.”
He added: “I felt our finishing wasn’t good enough and we lacked a cutting edge again. That’s something we can work on and we will be.”
A draw was an early boost for Ayr, and boss Brian Reid believed they could have had more than just a point.
He said: “Apart from the last five or 10 minutes I don’t think they put us under too much pressure.
“We would have been happy with a point before we came here but with the way we played I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t get more.”