Creative void at Dens after key trio's exit

Creative void at Dens after key trio's exit

In the not too distant past Dundee fans were treated to the talents of Luke McCowan, Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan.

All three possessed the priceless ability of being able to unlock any defence.

To lose one such player is disappointing – but to lose all three in the space of a year is a real blow.

And how second-bottom Dundee could do with some, if not all, of those players now amid a hugely disappointing start to the season.

While it is inevitable good players will eventually move on, how you replace them is key. But finding comparable quality replacements is far from easy and the voids have been inadequately filled at Dens Park.

That lack of creative spark is illustrated by Dundee mustering just nine goals in their opening 12 league games, the third lowest strike rate in the division.

They have also attempted just 29 shots on target – comfortably bottom of the pile on that front.

Worryingly for Dundee they have been leaky at the back too, shipping 22 league goals. Only bottom club Livingston (23) have conceded more.

You can argue there is no point dwelling on the past, but would things be different if Dundee were able to call on the services of Mulligan, McCowan or Cameron?

The bigger picture is a lot of key players left the club at the end of last season. Ensuring that doesn't happen again is something the hierarchy have to look at.

However, in the here and now Steven Pressley needs to find a way of getting the players he does have at his disposal in his new-look squad to deliver results.

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