Dark Blues are good enough to stay up

It is the calm before the storm for Dundee as they recharge their batteries ahead of the crunch post-split fixtures. Neil McCann’s men did really well to take a point from their game with Hearts and then again at Celtic last week before probably running out of steam when they lost at Ibrox on Saturday.

The three matches in just six days, including two trips to Glasgow, would undoubtedly have taken its toll and contributed to the extent of the 4-0 defeat against Rangers.

However, considering Dundee’s results in recent weeks, few would have predicted they would go to Parkhead and secure a draw.

The focus now turns to the fight for survival against the teams around them, and thankfully Dundee’s fate is well and truly in their own hands.

They are four points clear of secondbottom Ross County and five ahead of last-placed Partick Thistle. It is the other teams doing the chasing.

The Dark Blues are on 30 points which is the same tally they were on at this stage last season when former boss Paul Hartley was sacked.

The board took the decision to wield the axe after a run of seven consecutive defeats with McCann coming in to steer the club to safety.

But has there been any improvement considering they are in a fairly similar position this year?

I think there has.

Dundee look to have better footballers who are physically stronger than last season’s squad.

This is very much Neil McCann’s team with only Kevin Holt and Mark O’Hara from last season featuring in the starting line-up against Rangers at the weekend.

It has been a big transition and, as well as personnel, Neil has got the team playing in a certain style, passing out from the back.

Earlier this season I played in Dave Mackay’s testimonial and the young Dundee players who took part were also trying to play that way so it is something the manager is trying to implement throughout the club.

The flip side is you can be punished when it goes wrong as was shown at Ibrox when Dundee keeper Elliott Parish played a ball out to Genseric Kusunga on the edge of the penalty box with the defender being robbed by Alfredo Morelos who teed up Jamie Murphy for his side’s third goal.

I won titles with Celtic with us launching the ball up to big Chris Sutton and John Hartson and I would not have been comfortable playing in the style Neil wants.

In fact I remember I once tried to play the ball out to the feet of Bobo Balde in one game. Afterwards, Martin O’Neill slaughtered me and dropped me for the following match.

However, Neil has his own thoughts about how he wants his team to play and I think they will secure their safety.

They have that points cushion and I cannot see Ross County or Partick going on a run.

Hopefully, Dundee will get the two wins I believe will see them safe sooner rather than later.

Who would be a football manager?

Dundee United went to second-bottom Dumbarton on Saturday and promptly lost 3-2 only to bounce back by beating champions elect St Mirren on Tuesday night at Tannadice.

Tangerines boss Csaba Laszlo must have been tearing his hair out that his players could produce two widelycontrasting results in four days.

However, the manager will hope the victory against the Buddies will finally act as a springboard to cement his side’s position in the play-offs and hopefully secure second place. That will be vital to United’s promotion hopes.

I know only too well from my time at Dundee just how tough a division this is to get out of.

Picture: SNS. Neil McCann: has definite ideas about the game.