Dundee lacked presence up top against Montrose

going to sleep, the League One side played Fraser Macleod in behind far too easily.

A simple turn around the corner had the Montrose man with only Jack Hamilton to beat. He chose, though, to set up Webster for an easy tap-in. There was a strong suggestion of offside which could have spared Dundee’s blushes but the flag stayed down.

The first goal, too, will frustrate the Dens men, particularly starting goalie Calum Ferrie. After clearing the initial corner, Johnston was left free in the middle as he beat the keeper to the cross and flicked goalwards.

The need for a third striker in the squad was also made clear.

Neither Danny Mullen nor Alex Jakubiak made the squad against the Gable Endies with Paul McGowan and young Lyall Cameron leading the line in the 3-5-2 set-up.

Mullen is nearing a return to fitness while Jakubiak picked up an ankle knock against Peterhead last week that’s being assessed by the club.

Both technically gifted though they are, McGowan and Cameron are also two of the smallest players in the squad and up against the aerial power of former Dee Kerr Waddell in the Montrose defence, long balls were never an option.

That saw plenty of playing out through the back three and looking to switch play for the pacey wing-backs McDaid and Cammy Kerr.

Stewart Petrie’s Montrose, though, are a good team, a stubborn one, and they dealt fairly well with most of the attacks from open play.

Their defence was only unpicked by a penalty and the quality of Adam’s delivery from set-pieces in the end.

An out-and-out frontman may well have made the difference and the Dens boss has said he’s on the lookout for one.

Overall, it was something of a mixed bag for the Dark Blues on the North Sea coast but more minutes in the legs and sharpness on the ball for the players is welcome.

McPake, though, will be looking for more improvement from his side as they take on old boss Paul Hartley and his Cove Rangers side home and away this week.