Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
No losses in six not good enough
DUNDEE manager Paul Hartley said being “unbeaten in six” isn’t enough at this stage of the season as the side battle for a sixth-spot finish.
The Dark Blues boss was disappointed to have only come away with one point in the weekend’s clash against Kilmarnock, following their 2-2 draw at Inverness the week earlier.
“I think in the last two games we could have had six points,” he said.
“Those are the games you need to win against the teams around you — if you want to try to get into the top six.
“I think that’s six in the league unbeaten now. But I feel in each of these games between now and the end of the season our aim should be to get the three points.
“We had an opportunity last week and we had another one this week. We didn’t take them and maybe that just sums the season up.”
A win was always an uphill battle on Saturday, after Kilmarnock took the early lead with a ninth-minute goal at Dens Park.
Kris Boyd ran on to a through ball, before hitting a low shot to beat Dundee keeper Scott Bain.
Kevin Holt had the answer in the 26th minute, scoring with a left-footed shot following a Cammy Kerr cross from the right.
Further chances by both sides could easily have seen a different result on the cold afternoon at Dens — with Paul McGowan given the nod for Man of the Match.
“We had opportunities but we didn’t pass the ball well enough,” Paul added. “They probably had the better of the possession.
“It was a good finish from Kevin and he came and supported the play very well.
“We had a few opportunities and few quality balls going in there. But these are the games from which you need to take three points.
“However, we just weren’t clinical enough.”
The draw was still important, as Dundee moved up from 10th to seventh place in the league, a point behind Kilmarnock as they both leapfrogged Motherwell, who are now in eighth position.
But Dundee have yet to pick up a victory in 2017. Their last four matches resulted in two points as all seven teams at the foot of the table remain within sight of a top-six finish.
Paul said points, rather than performances, were key for the rest of the season.