Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
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IN a season dogged by inconsistency, Dundee have frustrated game to game, seemingly unable to keep good form going.
A last-gasp win at Partick Thistle on Saturday, however, provides the Dark Blues with a chance to turn things round ahead of their Premiership run-in.
What could cure the Dee’s consistency woes is a steady team selection which ensures last weekend’s win is followed up by more.
Results show Neil McCann’s men pick up points when the same starting XI is played for two games or more in a row.
This, however, has only happened three times throughout the campaign — the first coming in the Betfred Cup group stages in July of last year.
In December, though, Neil picked the same line-up on two separate occasions to beat Ross County and Partick and draw with Motherwell.
They take on the Steelmen at Dens Park in the league this Saturday and, with their injury and suspension problems easing, the Dee need to find the winning formula for that one.
With six games to go before the split, Dundee have a tough stretch which sees them take on four of the Premiership’s current top half before the middle of April.
To have the best chance of getting results against Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts, Neil will be thinking about settling on his favoured set-up, rather than chopping and changing.
The Tele tonight takes a look at who the gaffer could be calling on to keep the Dark Blues on form.
Goalkeeper
He may have had a couple of howlers lately but Elliott Parish is Dundee’s undisputed No 1.
Frenchman Jeremy Malherbe has been brought in as cover and will, hopefully, keep Parish on his toes.
Defence
If Saturday’s performance proved anything, it’s that Dundee’s best central defensive pairing is Steven Caulker and Josh Meekings.
The English duo were dominant at both ends of the pitch and should be looking to build a solid partnership between now and the crucial split fixtures.
At right-back, Cammy Kerr is likely be a stick-on for the workrate and