Dundee 0-2 St Mirren: Lennon delighted to see Buddies win ‘in third gear’

Scorers: St Mirren - McLean (39), Parkin (63)

The first half at Dens Park was a dull affair until Saints midfielder Kenny McLean sent a wonderful 35-yard drive past veteran Dees goalkeeper Rab Douglas whose dive was futile.

Dundee midfielder Ryan Conroy smacked the post seconds before the interval and after the break the home side had a penalty claim turned down when McLean challenged Mark Stewart in the box, moments before Saints’ summer signing Sam Parkin clinched the points with his first goal for the Buddies after being set up by Dougie Imrie.

Lennon felt his team were below par but was also quick to point out the significance of the win which took the Paisley side to four points after two games.

“We scored two fantastic goals and kept a clean sheet,” said the St Mirren manager. “And what I will say is that I didn’t think we got out of third gear in terms of the way that we can play and in terms of what the players demand from themselves and each other.

“So I am delighted with that. We are also pleased with picking up three points on the road in the first time of asking. Last season I think we only won three times away from home with 10 draws. To progress from where we were last season we have to do better, so it was very pleasing to do it on Saturday.”

Lennon also predicted great things for his Scotland under-21 player, McLean, although he is glad to have him at Paisley in the meantime.

“It was a wonderful goal and he has got that in his locker,” said Lennon. “The ball was still rising when it hit the back of the net.

“Maybe this season we will unleash a new Gtaeme Souness or Kenny Dalglish and I certainly think McLean has the ability to do that.

“There will be a little bit of help from myself and the staff, but he certainly has the tools to do it.

“He is going into his second full season and he has two years of his contract still to go. He has a lot of development still in him and we think he is in the correct environment.

“Kenny has all to the tools to be a top player, wherever he goes.”

After a goalless draw at Kilmarnock last week it seems clear where Dundee’s problems lie. The SPL new boys had their chances but with only one point from their opening two games the Dens Park fans may feel hard luck stories from manager Barry Smith so early in the season are ominous.

“The boys are disappointed because they put a lot of work into the game,” said the former Dundee defender.

“We could have worked their keeper more but we had two or three good opportunities. Other than their two goals I’m not sure our keeper had too many saves to makes. You obviously want to create chances but you obviously want to do better with them.

“But the fact that we are creating chances is a positive and we are always looking at positives from games.”