The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Berra covets winning feeling in last quarter
Defender says Dark Blues need to start turning draws into wins
Christophe Berra insists Dundee need to keep building play-off momentum with wins – not draws.
The Dark Blues extended their recent unbeaten run to four games with the 0-0 stalemate against Alloa Athletic at Dens on Tuesday night.
James McPake’s men dominated throughout and had a hatful of chances but were denied by a combination of poor finishing and Alloa keeper Neil Parry, who made a string of stunning saves.
Dundee will now look to return to winning ways at Ayr on Saturday with on-loan Hearts defender Berra admitting a victory could prove vital in the Dark Blues’ quest for a precious promotion play-off spot.
The former Scotland international said: “The games are coming thick and fast. The league is so tight.
“It’s going to go down to the wire for the play-offs. Teams will take points off each other and there are no easy games in this league.
“Even on Tuesday night, all the games were draws apart from the Inverness one. Ayr are flying high as well so we know how difficult it will be.
“But we need to get a bit of momentum. We have a draw, two wins and a draw although it maybe should have been another victory against Alloa.
“We have had three clean sheets in a row which is obviously pleasing from the defenders’ and goalkeeper’s point of view.
“But it is the business end of the season and it is about winning games, which is what we need to do.”
Berra arrived at Dens in January and he admits he has been impressed by the quality at the club.
However, he acknowledged that is no guarantee that Dundee, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, can take anything for granted about bouncing straight back up.
Berra said: “Yes, the team does have quality.
“I think there was a big turnover of players at the start of the season with a lot of ins and outs so it does take time to gel. There aren’t many teams who have come down and gone straight back up.
“Hearts did it one year but Hibs and Rangers couldn’t. It is not an easy league to get out of and some teams have been here for three or four seasons like Dundee United.
“Obviously our aim is to go up this season but it is not going to be easy.
“We just have to worry about ourselves, keep on ticking the games off and getting points on the board.”
Dundee will still be kicking themselves they did not take all three points against Alloa, but they can take comfort from the fact they are unlikely to face another keeper this season who will produce such an incredible performance between the sticks as Parry.
Berra said: “It was really frustrating because we were so dominant.
“We had umpteen chances but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net. We had a few shots on target but all credit to their keeper. I think he has been out for a while but he has come back and been man of the match.
“No disrespect to Alloa but on another day it could have been four or five. I haven’t been involved in many games like that where you have been so dominant and also creating chances.
“Sometimes towards the end if a team sits in, it is difficult to create chances but we did have them, myself included.
“Either we just couldn’t take them because of poor finishing or it was good goalkeeping.”
Meanwhile, Dundee striker Kane Hemmings, who missed the Alloa game because of illness, should be available for the trip to Ayr.