Dark Blues aiming to build on home comforts

WINGER Declan McDaid says home comforts have helped Dundee this season – and today the Dark Blues are determined to make Dunfermline’s visit to Dens Park as uncomfortable as possible.

The Pars flew out of the traps in the Championship title race this term, romping to the top of the table with nine wins from the first 10 matches of the season.

That included a home victory over big league favourites Hearts.

However, the form of Stevie Crawford’s side has dipped in recent weeks and they head to Dundee with no wins in their last three outings – a draw at Raith Rovers, surprise home defeat to Morton and the midweek disappointment of being knocked out of the Betfred Cup on penalties by Premiership St Johnstone.

The form of their hosts on the other hand hasn’t lived up to expectations with just two victories from their opening seven league matches.

Both of those have come at home to add to a Betfred Cup win over Cove Rangers on their own patch.

And McDaid says the Dark Blues aim to make their home record four wins and one draw out of five by getting the better of Dunfermline today.

He said: “Today is a big game, we have been doing well and are looking forward to it.

“Hopefully, we can get the three points to add to the Arbroath win and we were unlucky last weekend against Inverness.

“We are playing well and we know it but we need the wins now.

“We need to be winning our home games, we know that, so hopefully we can get the three points.

“It’s still weird without fans at Dens Park but we still feel we have an advantage here.

“We’ve been strong at home, won our last two and, hopefully, today we can get another win and keep the wins coming.

“It’s familiar here at Dens, you are in the same dressing-room whereas at the moment you go to places and you’re changing in different wee rooms, so it’s not what you’re used to.”

Though they would have preferred to be in League Cup quarter-final action this week after being knocked out by Hibs in the last 16, Dundee head into today’s big Championship clash with a full week’s preparation behind them.

Dunfermline, meanwhile, played 120 minutes against top flight opposition before being beaten on spot-kicks by Saints.

And McDaid is hoping the Dark

Blues can take advantage of any heavy legs in the Pars line-up this afternoon, while also gaining three points on leaders Hearts with the Jambos in Scottish Cup final action tomorrow.

“It might be a good thing for us they went to extra-time because it’s more minutes in their legs before they come here,” he added.

“We are feeling good going into it, so hopefully we can get the result we want.

this season. three home wins so far Dens Park: Has hosted Declan McDaid: Has started last three games on the bench.