George Cran

Dundee fans need to keep the heid – all is not lost at Dens Park

IT’S a difficult time to think of anything positive about Dundee after their fans suffered through some dire derby-day disappointment.

Rivals Dundee United leapt clear at the top of the Championship table with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win at Dens Park.

They opened up a nine-point lead over the Dark Blues that could be stretched even further if they win on Saturday.

It’s doom and gloom at Dens Park but I’d advise Dundee fans to try to keep the heid – some of them certainly didn’t on Friday.

They have had to endure some pretty miserable times following their club in recent years.

But all is not lost.

Defeat on Friday only adds up to three points – six, I suppose, with the other derby thrown in.

James McPake’s side, though, still remain top of the form table in the Championship. Four wins from their last six is pretty decent.

They earned awards for Manager of the Month for McPake, obviously, and Player of the Month for Declan McDaid in October through those wins.

The biggest thing to remember is Dundee United are six months further down the line in rebuilding a team good enough to win promotion – that showed on Friday night.

I never expected Dundee to be

George Cran Column able to compete with United in the early stages of the season.

I would’ve expected them to compete a bit more on Friday night, mind you.

However, I still think things will come good at Dens Park. For me, they are the second-best team in the division and will finish there in May.

Usually that wouldn’t be so bad but when there’s only one automatic promotion place and that’s currently firmly in the grip of your nearest rivals, fair enough, it’s tough to take.

Being second to United explained some of the anger at Dens on Friday night, though some took it way too far.

One punter stood out – yelling at the director’s box (at John Nelms, I assume) despite having a young child in his arms.

The kid was absolutely terrified, not because of the football but the behaviour of his dad.

All the punters around this guy were trying to make him see sense to their credit but it made my blood boil. What an example to set.

Be angry, be annoyed, but there are ways to tell the club you’re not happy – don’t make your kid suffer when you’ve lost the rag because your team lost a game of football.

Keep the heid, keep faith and your team might just turn things around and get back to the Premiership.

Dundee fans were in full voice before kick-off on Friday.