Hearts player defended after penalty woe as 'amazing performer' gets big backing amid midweek dejection
The player is on loan at another Premiership side from Hearts.
Steven Pressley has jumped to the defence of his Hearts loanee after a midweek moment to forget.
The former Jambos captain has turned opinion as Dundee manager but it was defeat on the road at ex-Tynecastle gaffer John McGlynn’s Falkirk in their most recent clash. Ben Broggio’s goal was the difference as the Bairns won the Premiership match 1-0 on their home turf but Yan Dhanda blazed a huge chance to take a share of the spoils.
He has spent this season at Dundee on loan from Hearts but his late penalty was blasted way wide. Pressley was certain that the playmaker would score and offered no criticism in a stirring defence.
Yan Dhanda penalty miss explained
He said: "I have no criticism of Yan. He's been an amazing performer for us. He's a player I'd have put my house on scoring. He's a great dead-ball expert. Scoring more goals is an area we have to keep working on in training. It's a difficult skill, but it's one big aspect we must find. This is going to be a real dogfight. It's going to be a difficult period and we'll have to show real resilience and attitude to get through this."
Pressley added when speaking on Sportsound: “Considering the conditions, the players attitude towards the game was amazing. We controlled long periods, found ourselves in really good areas, but it's been the story of late - we just need to find that final action. We had the penalty in the final minute but no criticism of Yan Dhanda - he's been an outstanding performer and gives so much to the team.
"The truth is, we've never thought we are out of this. I've reminded the players constantly we have got so much hard work ahead of us. We have to get the end product which is the only thing missing from our performance."
Falkirk 1-0 Dundee verdict
Falkirk meanwhile continued their good form with the win and sitting sixth, went level on points with Hibs in fifth during their win. McGlynn said as his side also put further distance between themselves and the bottom six: "If it had been a draw, I don't think we could complain.
"But we're delighted to come out on the winning side, with them missing that penalty late on. It's a significant gap we've created now between ourselves, Aberdeen and Dundee United, who didn't play. That gap's a bit bigger now and we're moving away from everyone else below us. We are also now level on points with Hibs in fifth, and I'm absolutely delighted to have 39 points sitting here on the 11th of February.
"We targeted 40 points for the entire season, so to have 39 at this stage with loads of games to go, I'm delighted. Now we have to try and build on that. Nicky Hogarth did great. On a night when the shots are coming in and moving all over the place, his handling was very good. It was a really good performance from him, and I'm delighted to get a clean sheet for him and the whole team."