APRIL SHOWERS
Hartley falls dramatically from grace with Dundee in freefall
APRIL continues to be the cruellest month for Dundee. Just a few short weeks ago, Paul Hartley was riding high after being named Ladbrokes Manager of the Month for February.
A first home league win over Rangers since 1992, as well as his team scoring five goals before halftime at Motherwell, helped the 40-year-old Dens Park boss secure that accolade.
But since waking up on April Fools’ Day after dissecting a 7-0 home loss to Aberdeen the night before — the club’s heaviest margin of defeat since 1971 — damaging losses to Ross County and Hearts have followed.
Dundee look like a side in freefall and currently sit just one point above the relegation play-off place after their sixth successive defeat.
As Hibs proved three seasons ago, losing form at this stage of the season can prove fatal.
One bright spot for Hartley on Saturday after a narrow defeat at Tynecastle was the form of his 19-year-old debutant Dan Higgins. Playing in an unfamiliar central defensive role, the teenager belied his tender years to add a muchneeded calmness to the Dundee backline.
Afterwards, the birthday boy echoed his manager’s belief that this squad is capable of getting out of trouble, starting with next weekend’s now huge visit of fellow strugglers Hamilton to Dens Park.
‘Making my debut was a good 19th birthday present,’ said Higgins, who left Celtic in January in search of regular football.
‘My family were all here to see me play — my mum and dad, my brother, my uncles and cousins. It was a real family day out.
‘It was good to play but what we really wanted was the three points.
‘I’ve not been playing at the back. I’ve been playing in midfield but I felt comfortable. I thought I played well.
‘Next week against Hamilton is a big match for us now.
‘But if we do what we did out there today and stay together, then we have a good chance (of staying up).
‘There’s a good group of lads and we’re all together.
‘You could see that out on the pitch.
‘It could have gone either way. We just need the games to start going our way.
‘Hopefully I’ve done enough to keep my place. But I just hope the team can start performing.’
Hearts had failed to score in five of their last six games but Isma Goncalves eased nerves at Tynecastle with a 13th-minute goal.
The impressive Don Cowie played a clever ball into the path of the Portuguese striker, who evaded a tackle by Paul McGowan before firing low past Scott Bain — his shot going into the net via Dundee captain Darren O’Dea.
The visitors struggled to create many chances but substitute Craig Wighton missed a glorious opportunity to level.
He ran clean through on Jack Hamilton’s goal but shanked the ball horribly wide.
The Hearts keeper also turned a dangerous Tom Hateley free-kick onto the post.
‘We had chances to score,’ said Higgins.
‘We hit the post and Wighty had a good chance but the difference is Hearts took their chance when it came.
‘But we were quite comfortable at the back and I think we could have taken something from the game.
‘The performance was there. Hopefully we can start picking up points soon.’
Higgins was not the only midfielder performing heroics in defence. With boss Ian Cathro dropping Tasos Avlonitis to the bench, Prince Buaben put in an assured display there.
The Ghanaian hopes Hearts can take confidence from the result and that the much-criticised Cathro can now go from strength to strength.
‘Playing in defence is not new to me,’ Buaben smiled.
‘It’s where I started my career when I was young at Ajax.
‘Then at Dundee United, Craig Levein played me there a few times.
‘I played there against St Johnstone in midweek when I came on for the last half hour. But I also played there in our recent testimonial game against Dundee United (for Sean Dillon).
‘So I am quite used to the position.
‘I would rather play midfield but if I have to do a job at centre-back, I am comfortable doing it.
‘Is it a relief to win after losing six in seven games? You can say relief, but we all know what we can do.
‘If you watch the game, you can see the gaffer is trying to put his ideas in the team.
‘A lot of the boys like having a manager that wants to play football.
‘But sometimes in football you go through a tough period and you have to grind it out.
‘We all know that in training we do our best but sometimes things don’t go our way.
‘Rome wasn’t built in a day so I think we’ll come good. One hundred per cent.’