Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Keeping clean can be the key
CLEAN sheets are key for Julen Etxabeguren as Dundee aim to put an end to their miserable home form this weekend against Motherwell.
The Spanish defender made his reappearance to the Dark Blues’ starting line-up in the 1-0 win at Hamilton Accies after a few weeks watching on from the sidelines.
And his return as the right side of a back three also saw the Dee keep only their second clean sheet of the season, something Julen reckons the team should make the most of.
“When you keep clean sheets, you either draw or win, so you always have a chance of picking up points,” the Basque defender said.
“We have to build on this clean sheet and keep working on it.”
More of the same is the message from Etxabeguren when the Steelmen come to Dens on Saturday.
And if they can perform with the same determination as they did against Hamilton, the Spaniard sees no reason why Dundee can’t register their first home win of the league campaign.
“We are looking forward to the Motherwell game,” he said.
“Everyone in the team wants to give the home fans a good performance and a win.
“If we play with the same attitude and work rate, then we will get it.”
Etxabeguren’s appearance at the weekend was his first start since the defeat to Inverness at the tail end of September but his absence from the action certainly hasn’t been due to a lack of commitment.
“I have been working very hard so I would be ready when the gaffer wanted to play me, so I am delighted to be back involved,” he said.
And the hard graft continues for the whole team as Saturday’s win came after a run of disappointing results in which they had lost their previous six games.
Julen knows the players can’t rest on their laurels after one win and must continue to progress as a team.
“The hard work starts now, we have to keep it going and keep showing this attitude for our next game and we will be fine,” he said.
“Saturday’s game was important as we were on a bad run but it is also important we step up and show the fans a performance, too, as they deserve it.”
Reflecting on the game at Hamilton, the central defender knew they were in