Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
An ‘anomaly’ insists boss as he reveals his new challenge
DUNDEE boss Tony Docherty says his side never recovered from a slow start.
However, the Dens manager insists the race for fifth place and European qualification is not over, despite the Buddies opening a fivepoint gap.
An “uncharacteristic” one, said Docherty.
“St Mirren started on the front foot and put us on the back foot and I don’t think we ever recovered. Very disappointing.
“It was a bit of an anomaly because it was uncharacteristic of us, particularly at home.
“I find it difficult to be hard on those players because over a season they have been fantastic.
“I don’t think we ever got a foothold in the game. We made a change at halftime and five changes in the game to try to address a lot of issues. I just felt we were swimming against the tide a wee bit.
“It’s all experience. As a newly-promoted team we have done fantastically well to get into the top six.
“There will be a lot of reflection.
“St Mirren are celebrating, there are five points in it but there are nine to play for.
“So what I’ve challenged the players with is how do they react to that.
“So far this season, I’ve always had a positive reaction to a negative result so I’m hoping for the same.”
To react with a result at Hearts on Saturday, Dundee will have to defend a lot better. Defensive lapses peppered an underpar day.
“The goals we lost were uncharacteristic and really preventable from a defensive point of view,” Docherty added.
“I have watched them all back and they were strange goals to lose.
“It’s not like us but it’s important we get back on the training field and make sure we put things right.”