Dorrans is aiming for four-in-a-row in United clash
Graham d or ran sis determined to make his first Dundee derby one to remember.
That’s why he’s dead set on helping his Dark Blues teammates take revenge for their August mauling at Tannadice.
Dorrans was still at Rangers when the Dee were thumped 6-2 by Dundee United in the opening month of the season.
As such, he remains untainted by the experience.
But he admits the rest of the Dundee dressing room have targeted Friday night’s return game at Dens Park as an opportunity for vengeance.
“There’s definitely a feeling that the boys want to put that right,” said Dorrans.
“We’ve been working hard on the training pitch, getting wins on the park, and there’s a good feeling about the place at the minute.
“We’re under no illusions. It’s going to be a tough as United are top of the league for a reason. But we’re confident in the group we’ve got here. We’re confident in our ability.
“I wasn’t here for the first derby, but I’ve spoken to the boys and they feel like they have a point to prove.”
To be fair to the Dark Blues, they have got into the habit of proving points recently.
In the last week, they have strung two wins together for the first time in two seasons, then ended a five-year wait for three on the bounce.
D or rans’ composed presence in midfield has been pinpointed by fans as a huge factor in their side’s improvement.
He continued: “The manager spoke about how long it had been since the club won three games in a row after the Morton game on Friday and I didn’t realise it had been that long since it happened.
“But a club like this, especially in this division, should be going into games looking to win them.
“Nobody in this league seems to have gone on that extended run of winning games, so hopefully we can be the one, now we’ve put three wins together.
“It’s pretty tight around the top of the table. Any team can beat any team.
“But we want to get ourselves on a run now, claw some points back that we need to make up, and see where we are at the end of that.”
Meanwhile, Dundee United keeper Benjamin Siegrist reckons the derby is the perfect way to celebrate extending his stay at Tannadice.
Siegrist has put pen to paper on a new deal through to 2022, and he is relishing the prospect of a visit to Dens.
“It’s nice to go into a hostile environment,” he said.
“We expect a tough test. Dundee are going to come out swinging and it’s up to us to match what they throw at us.
“But we believe in our qualities and the way we are playing. We’ll go up the street with loads of confidence.
“I enjoyed the whole day last time against Dundee. With it being a night game, you wake up and can’t wait to get going.
“But at this club you have to approach every game this way because expectations are very high.
“We have players who are hungry, a manager who is hungry, and we’re a club that’s hungry.
“Friday will be another great night for the city – but I don’t care about the other side!”