Dundee star Roarie Deacon aiming for some Betfred Cup derby delight

ROARIE DEACON could barely believe Dens Park and Tannadice existed just yards from each other – and insists their closeness is what makes today’s derby clash so special.

He was on the books at Arsenal and Sunderland, but never played in North London or Tyne-Wear derbies.

The 25-year-old Englishman, who moved to Dundee in the summer from English outfit Sutton United, was bowled over to discover Tannadice was only a short walk from Dens Park.

Deacon, who’s set for a key role in the televised Betfred Group C clash this afternoon, concedes he wasn’t aware just how close the old rivals were, and reckons the unique set-up within the City of Discovery gives the fixture that added spice.

Deacon said: “When I first came to sign, I pulled up to our stadium – and looked down to the road to another stadium!

“I thought: ‘What stadium is that down the road?’

“I didn’t know the two grounds were that close together. I had no idea.

“You can basically kick a ball from one stadium to the other. That proximity just brings the rivalry even more to the table.

“It’s so close and just so intense.

“This will be the biggest derby I’ve actually played in.

“I’ve been in involved in derbies growing up, like Arsenal v Tottenham, but it’s not as intense as a proper first-team derby like this one.”

Dundee boss Neil McCann has urged his side to play with a swagger against their Championship opponents. Deacon insists they’ll do just that.

He added: “Of course, we’re confident. We’re the Premiership team. They’re coming to our ground, so they should fear us.

“We don’t want to lose here. We know what we need to do.

“We should have the swagger being the Premiership team and they’re in the league below us in the Championship.

“It should be a tight game because of what’s at stake. But we’re the better team.

“It’s all about the result.

“I think the gaffer just wants us to go and win the game convincingly against our local rivals. It’s a massive rivalry.

“Talking to team-mates and staff members since I came to the club, it clearly means a lot. You don’t want to be walking in the town on the Monday after the game, with the fans not happy because we’ve lost the game.”

Deacon tasted the build-up to the North-East derby between Sunderland and Newcastle and believes today’s Tayside tussle means just as much to those involved.

He said: “The Sunderland v Newcastle derby is one you want to be involved in. I was in and around squads in the build-up to those games.

“The intensity of the training going into that one was unbelievable.

“In the north-east, you can’t afford to lose that game. At Sunderland, you just don’t want to do that.

“So I know what rivalry is all about and this is another big one.”