Latest news with #Alloa
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Dundee players 'very positive' about Pressley, says Shaughnessy
Joe Shaughnessy insists his former Dundee team-mates are "very positive" about working under Steven Pressley, despite the head coach's difficult start at Dens League Cup group defeat at Alloa was a second straight loss to lower-league fans were against the appointment of Pressley, who is now facing added pressure from the support after a challenging start to his centre-back Shaughnessy, who left Dens this summer to sign for Newcastle Jets in Australia, says the Dundee boss is making a good impression on the squad."I've spoken to a few of the players and they are very positive about it all," the 33-year-old told BBC Sportsound. "They're enjoying working with him. He's trying to get his idea across. When I talk to Simon Murray and some of the other lads, they enjoy the training and they are being worked hard. "The fans jumped on him saying he's not going to win titles or whatever, but the players are enjoying what he's come in and started doing. "They are onside and trying to build towards something. Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later."Shaughnessy added that any talk of sacking Pressley based on the League Cup group results is "very harsh".
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pressley calls for character after second cup loss
Steven Pressley expects to see resilience and character from his players following a difficult start to his Dundee reign. Defeats to Alloa Athletic and Airdrieonians have left the Dark Blues with no chance of Premier Sports Cup progress. Speaking to DeeTV after Saturday's 1-0 defeat to League 1 opposition at the Indodrill Stadium, the new head coach said: "There is a lot of work ahead of us." Group matches against Bonnyrigg Rose and Montrose come this week before a Scottish Premiership opener at home to Hibernian on 3 August. Asked how his squad respond, Pressley added: "By accepting, by understanding that's not good enough, and as a group, me, the players, have to show resilience. "It's far from the ideal start, it's not what we wanted, but you have to show character in these moments and that's certainly what I expect us to do. "They are a very good group. I have said we need reinforcements but that's irrelevant because we have to do better than that. "They want to do well, but it will take time. "I saw improvements in our defensive principles, we were much better in those. But from a creative aspect we certainly have to be better." Dundee on verge of cup exit after loss at Alloa The only goal in Alloa came when Luke Graham deflected a Steven Buchanan shot into his own net on 68 minutes. Talking to BBC Scotland after the game, Pressley said he would like to add "five or six" more signings, before adding that he assumed "full responsibility" for the loss. "The issue is a combination of a number of things," he explained. "We do need more players in, but I don't think we did well enough today with the group of players we had on the pitch. "Choices in possession weren't good. I thought we played too long on too many occasions. We have to take greater ownership and responsibility and make things happen. "Some of them tired significantly in the second half and we looked a team, at times, lacking in intensity. We have to find solutions to that." Visit our Dundee page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Dundee news notifications in the BBC Sport app
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'How many managers have been sacked before league starts?'
We asked for your views after Steven Pressley's Dundee suffered a second straight defeat to lower-league opposition in the Premier Sports what some of you said:Stuart: What any absolute shambles. How many managers have been sacked before the league season has actually started?Kenny: Complete and utter disgrace. Absolutely amateur, pure Sack Pressley now. If we don't we are relegated before a ball's kicked in the It's clear Dundee still have quite a bit of squad bolstering to do. Mr Pressley should be given at least until Christmas to set out his Absolute disgrace. No tactics, no running on or off the ball and playing like a bunch of guys who had never met before. Can't always blame the manager, it's about time the people at the top come out and be held accountable for this utter Despite there being two disappointing results so far in the League Cup, it's important we as Dundee fans take a balanced view on the situation. It's very early doors yet and I can see the manager's philosophy, build from the back and work through the phases. He's built a really good group of players and I've been impressed with the signing policy. Give it time and I bet you it's "I told you so" from The appointment was bizarre, he'd had a poor record and been out of the game for years. Head-scratching to say the least. Doesn't inspire the fans at Dundee were terrible. No meaningful attempts on goal. Alloa played the better football and deserved to win. With performances like this Dundee will struggle to stay up.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What did Pressley say after Alloa defeat?
Steven Pressley's Dundee are facing an early exit from the Premier Sports Cup as defeat at Alloa leaves them pointless in Group C. The result is a second successive loss against lower-league opposition after a home defeat to Airdrieonians last weekend. Speaking to BBC Scotland's Chick Young post-match, here's what head coach Pressley had to say: Clearly not the result you wanted, what about the performance? "I think I've said we need another five or six in, but the reality is, even with that group of players, we have to perform better than we did today. So I take ownership of that. I take full responsibility around that. We have to go away and work again." Can you put your finger on it? Is it quality of players? What is the issue? "The issue is a combination of a number of things. We do need more players in, but as I've said, I don't think we did well enough today with the group of players we had on the pitch. I think choices in possession weren't good. I thought we played too long on too many occasions. "And also, we have to take greater ownership and responsibility and make things happen. We need players that are going to change games. But listen, that's my responsibility. That's my job to get the confidence in the players, the belief in the players, and that's what I fully intend to do." Did nervousness come into it? "Maybe a little bit of nervousness. Maybe that was evident in the second half. But I didn't think we created many good opportunities in the game. Our best opportunities came from set plays, something we have been working hard on. "I've seen improvements in our defensive principles, but we're still nowhere near where we need to be. And as I've said, I take responsibility for that because I think with the group of players we have out there, we can do much better." Do you see reason to believe? "Of course I do. It's very difficult for a number of players. I still look at them from a physical perspective, and they're not at the level we need them at. "Some of them tired significantly in the second half and we looked a team, at times, lacking in that intensity in the second half. We have to find solutions to that."
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Steven Pressley's Dundee see Premier Sports Cup hopes dashed by Alloa loss
Steven Pressley suffered a second defeat as Dundee manager as Alloa left their visitors' hopes of Premier Sports Cup progression in ruins. Dundee were on the end of another 1-0 defeat at the Indodrill Stadium after losing their opening game against Airdrie. The decisive moment came midway through the second half when Luke Graham could only turn Steven Buchanan's shot into his own net as he tried to clear in the goalmouth. The result moved Alloa on to nine points at the top of Group C, three ahead of Airdrie with a game more played. Mikael Mandron hit a hat-trick as St Mirren started and finished strongly in an 8-2 home win over Annan. Mandron put Saints three up inside nine minutes following Killian Phillips' double but trialist Myles Gaffney pulled two goals back for the visitors before Richard King converted a penalty on the hour mark. Stephen Robinson's side went goal crazy in the final 10 minutes with Mandron completing his treble and Jayden Richardson and Roland Idowu also on target. Ayr are a point behind Saints with a game in hand in Group D after Curtis Main hit a double in a 4-0 home win over Arbroath. Falkirk could not follow up their seven-goal thrashing of Brechin as they were held to a goalless draw by Cove in another trip to the North East. The Bairns gained a penalty shoot-out bonus point but Spartans moved top of Group A with a 2-0 win at Glebe Park. Stephen O'Donnell hit the only goal as Motherwell moved top of Group G with victory over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview. O'Donnell had earlier had a goal disallowed and Callum Slattery hit the bar from a free-kick before the defender converted from a back-post corner four minutes before the break. Livingston bounced back from defeat by Kilmarnock with a 2-0 home win over Brora Rangers. Danny Wilson opened the scoring with an overhead kick just after the half-hour mark and Zak Rudden headed the second with six minutes left. Ross County cut the gap on Group B leaders Partick Thistle to two points after Jay Henderson's second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Queen of the South at Palmerston. East Kilbride moved top of Group F as they followed up their shock triumph over Raith Rovers with a 4-1 win at Elgin with the help of Jack Leitch's first-half double. St Johnstone joined the SPFL newcomers on six points after Uche Ikpeazu's 90th-minute goal – his first for the club – earned a 1-0 win at Inverness. Josh Cooper hit a double as Dunfermline got off the mark with a 4-0 win at Dumbarton.
