Docherty focusing on squad – not pitch issues
TONY Docherty hopes Dundee’s pitch controversies are behind them and his team are able to get the recognition he feels they deserve for their “wonderful” top- six achievement.
The Dark Blues have been heavily criticised for having five postponements at Dens Park this term due to waterlogging, including their fixture against title- chasing Rangers which was called off twice in the past month.
The showdown with Philippe Clement’s side is set to go ahead today at the third time of asking after a successful pitch inspection on Tuesday, although contingency plans had been put in place to take it to St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park.
“It was great, the news came through when we were up training and the players are buzzing about that,” manager Docherty said at his pre- match media briefing on Tuesday.
“Home has been fantastic for us so it’s great that we’ve got a game on at home to look forward to.”
In the event of unexpected weather, the option remains to take the game to Perth. But Docherty is optimistic his team will be able to play out the campaign without further disruption.
“That’s something I can’t affect, if that was the case,” he said. “We’ve all become weather forecasters in the last week or two but I think the forecast is to be fine.”
After the match against Rangers was called off last Wednesday, the Ibrox club released a statement accusing Dundee of “negligence and unprofessionalism” and “repeatedly breaching SPFL rules”, but Docherty refused to be drawn on whether he felt the criticism had been unfair.
“All my focus and the team’s focus is on performances on the pitch,” he said. “Regardless of what the noise is outside, I’ll just continue to focus on my team and what I can affect.
“I think there’s a lot of outside noise about it but it’s my job to make sure the focus stays within the football match.”
Dundee secured their top- six status at the weekend, and Docherty feels it would be wrong if that was lost amid the controversy that has erupted around their pitch.
Now he wants the focus to be on their push to overhaul fifth- placed St Mirren and try to qualify for Europe.