'Hard work ahead' - Pressley bemoans Dundee loss

Dundee should be "under no illusions how much work's required", said new head coach Steven Pressley following the home Premier Sports Cup loss to Airdrieonians.

The Premiership side marked Pressley's first competitive match in charge with defeat, an improved second half unable to cancel out Chris Mochrie's solitary goal.

Former Falkirk and Coventry City boss Pressley replaced Tony Docherty in the Dens Park dugout this summer, a somewhat surprise appointment after an equally eye-opening sacking.

Docherty had staved off relegation in his second season in charge after a top-six finish in his maiden campaign.

"Obviously the result is far from the result we wanted," Pressley told BBC Scotland.

"It very much highlighted that we have so much hard work ahead of us. You could see in both our attacking and defending elements that we weren't in sync on many occasions.

"We haven't had long enough, I could see that in our performance. We were disjointed at times. Every day on the training ground will help us put some of these things in place.

"I hope we're under no illusions just to how much work that's required. I know that."

Dundee visit Alloa Athletic in their next Group C game on Saturday before a trip to Bonnyrigg Rose (22 July) before Montrose visit Dens Park (26 July).

"Today was the first time the real ball came out and there were some real teething problems in our display," Pressley added.

"I'm confident with this group of players and some additions that we can put that right.

"I'm really excited about what we have here but it's going to take time."