‘Mini-league’ game is more than six-pointer

Dundee’s game against St Mirren is not a sixpointer – it’s much bigger than that. I don’t think it is unfair on either club to say they are now in a mini-league with each other. That, for me, is so disappointing this early in the season – we’re not even a third of the way through – but I don’t think there is any other way to describe it.

The wins for Motherwell and Hamilton last weekend took them a fair distance away.

The Steelmen are eight points clear of Dundee and the Accies are seven better off. That is a considerable gap.

Victory in this match would lift the Dark Blues off the bottom of the Premiership and it is the battle with the Buddies that is all important now.

I think manager Jim McIntyre will go for it as far as his team selection and tactics go.

Dundee are at home in front of fans who will be desperate to cheer every good piece of play or attacking move.

The supporters will reward them if they take the game to St Mirren right from the off, and I see that being McIntyre’s plan.

Of course, there is a huge amount of pressure on Dundee but it won’t exactly be a carefree bunch of opposition players who arrive at Dens on Saturday.

Saints haven’t won a league match since the opening day of the season and that’s a long time. They will be just as nervous as the home players, knowing that defeat will send them bottom.

Obviously, Dundee need goals and some people will be pointing the finger at Kenny Miller and saying it’s time for him to show why they signed him.

I get that, and Kenny will be desperate to get off the mark.

However, it can’t just be about one man.

We are obviously going really well at Arbroath and our goals have been coming from all over the park.

You need centre-halves to be chipping in with one or two, and goal threat has to come from the midfield as well.

Also, you can’t just look at the frontmen to give the Dundee fans something to shout about.

An early shot at goal would, of course, lift the supporters but that can also happen if Cammy Kerr or Darren O’Dea puts in a good defensive tackle.

I am hoping Dundee start on the front foot, and would be absolutely

I think manager Jim McIntyre will go for it as far as his team selection and tactics go

delighted if they can scrape an ugly 1-0 win and the winner is an own goal or a deflection.

It doesn’t have to be pretty but the points need to stay at Dens.

Hard work paying off for Arbroath

I mentioned Arbroath there and who can blame me?

I was training on Monday night and the atmosphere among the lads was terrific.

Unbeaten after 12 matches, and nine of those wins – it’s looking good.

No one is getting carried away, of course, and the gaffer Dick Campbell wouldn’t let that happen.

But the work that is going in on the training pitch is paying off.

It’s not just the tempo but the quality of the work that has impressed me.

There is competition for places as well, so long may this unbeaten run continue.

Picture: SNS. Kenny Miller is under pressure to find the net, but the goal threat has to come from more than one man.