Boss Neil McCann critical of Dundee performance following Hearts defeat
The Dark Blues lost 2-0 at Tynecastle.
Last updated 13th Dec 2017
Dundee manager Neil McCann branded his team's performance a "joke'' after they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle.
McCann's side did not get going until after Isma Goncalves' opener on the half-hour mark and their comeback was scuppered after Roarie Deacon went off injured, when Christophe Berra netted the second 13 minutes from time.
McCann, who also lost Jack Hendry to concussion, said: "The second half we were better, we had a wee spell when we were dangerous then we lost Roarie, which definitely hurt us.
"But I'm not going to say that cheered me up any because that was a shocking performance, absolutely shocking.
"I didn't see it coming. It won't be accepted. Everything we do is geared towards winning, everything we do in training has a purpose and an end point where it becomes about standards. And tonight's performance, I'm not going to save them, was a joke.
"Anything in the second half would have been an improvement. Other than that spell, no, I'm not going to accept it. When you set standards you should stick to them. The fans that travelled down from Dundee have been short-changed."
Dundee lost to a team featuring three teenagers in midfield, including Anthony McDonald, who set up both goals on his debut. McDonald was one of two 16-year-olds who played, along with Harry Cochrane, while Lewis Moore, at 19, was relatively experienced.
When asked whether it was a brave call to select McDonald, boss Craig Levein said: "Not if you watch him every day in training. With Jamie (Walker) out we don't have another player like him.
"He has been a stand-out at his age group as well as Harry Cochrane and three or four other lads. I'm surprised they are involved at this young age, but they are just good players and I think you saw that."
Levein, whose side followed up victory over Motherwell, added: "I didn't feel comfortable until the last 10 minutes, the game was in the balance until we got the second goal. Dundee looked dangerous at times, but I think it was a better performance than Saturday. We had some moments of really good football."