Dark Blues preparing for Buddies ‘cup final’

Goalkeeper remains confident for huge Dens Park clash with fellow strugglers St Mirren

Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton is under no illusions about the importance of this weekend’s game at Dens against St Mirren, admitting his toiling team have to treat it like a cup final.

The Dark Blues lost for the fifth game in a row at Motherwell on Saturday thanks to a solitary goal from David Turnbull to remain rooted to the foot of the table.

St Mirren were also defeated in the lunchtime game against Rangers with the Buddies still only one point ahead of Dundee in 11th place.

Now, the two struggling sides meet in a crunch clash with Hamilton insisting the Dark Blues have to approach the game as if it was a cup final.

The 24-year-old said: “It is – definitely. It is a six-pointer and is one of those games we have to win.

“Both sides have to win and the boys know that.

“We have a great dressing-room, the manager will get us right up for it and it is a game we need to go and win.

“I think you always have to be confident (of turning it around).

“The minute you lose confidence, you are as well stopping.”

“We have to be confident, we have to be together and we believe we can get through it.

“There are other teams who are down there as well.

“If you look at Motherwell, they have won their last two games and have created a gap.

“So it is just about staying in touch and getting points on the board.

“I think for any team down there, that one result can make you kick on and we will be looking to do that next weekend.”

Dundee lost both their starting centre-backs to injury at Fir Park with Darren O’Dea having to come off in the 59th minute, while Andy Boyle left the field on a stretcher in stoppage-time.

Dark Blues boss Jim McIntyre said: “Andy’s got a gash in his knee, so he’ll be OK, he just needs a few stitches.

“Darren took a knock and there was a bit of blurred vision. So we couldn’t take any chances there.

“He was struggling to see and tried to continue.”