Dark Blues can draw on last season

Dundee can take encouragement from holding Celtic twice last season, according to manager Paul Hartley, writes Ian Roache.

The Dark Blues, who have struggled in the league so far this season, face what looks like an extremely daunting Premiership game at home to the Hoops on Saturday.

However, the champions failed to get the better of them during two goalless draws last spring – at Celtic Park on March 2 and Dens on April 5.

Dundee were also hammered 6-0 at Parkhead last September but it is to the other couple of results that they should look for inspiration going into this game.

Hartley said: “We do have a tough run of fixtures and the next match against Celtic is the most important one for us.

“It is a game that nobody expects us to take anything from but we have to think we can go and get something from it.

“We have played well against them before and we have spoken about that as a group this week.

“We have looked at the two performances from last season when we drew with them and seen how well we played.

“It is all about trying to bounce back after Inverness.”

Hartley has been impressed with the start to the domestic campaign made by his former club Celtic, who performed well in last night’s Champions League game against Manchester City.

He said: “Celtic are a class act. I have watched the footage of their matches and been there to see them play.

“They have a few new additions and there is a totally different style there.

“They have tempo, pace and play with real purpose.

“So we are going to have our work cut out on Saturday but we have to try to find a way to win and get a system that suits us.”

Paul Hartley: impressed by Celtic this season.