Dundee strike duo pushing for place

YORDI Teijsse and Faissal El Bakhtaoui are pushing hard for a start in the Dundee team.

The pair gave boss Paul Hartley food for thought with their performances in the Development Squad win over St Mirren.

Both got on the scoresheet as the young Dark Blues finished 4-1 winners.

Teijsse scored twice in the victory with Bakhtaoui and Nicky Low getting the other goals in what was a convincing victory.

Both front men haven’t featured in the starting XI since the defeat to St Johnstone over a month ago, with Teijsse having dropped to the bench and Bakhtaoui being out injured since that game.

It seems unlikely the manager will change his current front pairing of Marcus Haber and Craig Wighton for Saturday’s game against Inverness Caley, though.

However, it’s a timely reminder to him what they are capable of and will also make sure the i mpressive partnership of Haber and Wighton doesn’t get complacent.

Mark O’Hara also came through the Development Squad game unscathed before being substituted midway through the second half, although Saturday clash will probably come a little too early for him to return to first-team action.

Meanwhile, the manager believes other teams may still have to go through a rough spell, as his team strive to pick up points in the next few games.

After Inverness, the Dee travel to face Killie before welcoming Ross County to Dens — all games which will be seen as winnable.

“We have good games coming up to take points from and other clubs may go through a bad patch like we have, too,” said Paul.

After losing to such a late goal in the defeat to Rangers, the players would be forgiven for being down but the manager insists that’s far from the case.

“The players are looking forward to the game on Saturday after putting in a shift last weekend.”

The last game at home saw a win against Motherwell and the Dark Blues will be looking to continue where they left off in front of their own fans.

However, Inverness won comfortably in the reverse fixture in the Highlands earlier this season and haven’t lost to Dundee in the league since 2005.

HOLT’S been ever present for Dee — page 39.

Dutchman Yordi Teijsse is pushing for a starting place after bagging a brace in Dundee’s 4-1 Development Squad win against St Mirren (above).