Confidence crisis is gripping a Dark Blues side in trouble

That they will persist with the current set-up at Dens Park for the time being seems likely, though.

James has been well-backed in two transfer windows now and is still building a side in his own image.

The results must come, though, or what is, admittedly by all involved a long-term project in handing the rookie gaffer his first managerial role, may be forced into an abrupt end.

The Dark Blues board have shown patience with managers in the past, perhaps sometimes that has been ill-advised.

However, with James, there is a feeling if they start to get things right on the pitch, the rest will fall into place.

Positives from Friday can be pointed to in the form of another academy product in Lyall

Cameron, although perhaps not in the right moment, being handed his first top-team start.

New loan signing Ollie Crankshaw impressed on his debut, coming on in the second half after signing from Wigan the previous evening.

His arrival, that of Fraser Murray, Ross Callachan and the rumoured approach of others like Conor Hazard and Christophe Berra mean there will be time yet to judge this season’s Dundee vintage which, by all accounts, has the makings of a decent side.

Getting them to perform well on the pitch on a regular basis is a different question altogether, however.

Like many other matches this season, Friday night was not good enough at either end of the park, and, until that changes, the alarm bells will continue to sound.