Dark Blues will be heard loud and clear predicts Dens gaffer McPake

BOSS James McPake does not expect reduced numbers to affect the noise levels Dundee fans generate in tonight’s derby at Tannadice.

With hosts United able to sell three sides of the ground to home fans, the Dark Blues support will be restricted to the Jerry Kerr and Fair Play stands.

But, with well over 3,000 of them still able to attend, James knows his team will not lack backing.

“We’ve got a great backing and our away fans are always great. They’ll be louder because they feel they need to be,” he said.

“The fans are great and it’s actually a good place to play football.

“Like here (Dens), it’s a good place for a derby. It’s a bit tighter down there and they are on top of you, a bit like Tynecastle.”

The gaffer, meanwhile, was delighted to report he will be selecting his line-up from the biggestavailable squad he’s had so f ar t hi s term. Fin Robertson has recovered from the cramp that saw him t aken off against Inverness last weekend and Jamie Ness has trained well all week after missing that one through illness.

That means only longterm absentee Andrew Davies is not considered fit enough to be involved.

“It gives me a problem but it’s a good problem. I’d rather be sitting here with a full squad to pick from than two, three, four or five out, so I’m delighted.”

Whatever line-up he decides to go with, James is looking for the kind of performance he got when Dundee lost narrowly to Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup a fortnight ago.

“You need to be at it, especially in derbies, we know that. They will be looking at it the same way.

“It’s two teams fired up, both teams are in the same boat and you come out all guns blazing, i t ’s that derby feel.”

Dundee manager James McPake.