Meekings calls for show of character from Dark Blues in bid to remain in title race

DUNDEE: Meekings says Dark Blues have to avoid ‘falling away’ in promotion race

Dundee need to show character at Dens Park this weekend to prevent themselves from “falling away” in the Championship promotion race, according to captain Josh Meekings.

A 12-point gap to pacesetters Dundee United has opened up and the Dark Blues, who have dropped down into the last of the play-off places, have to stop the bleeding against Queen of the South.

“This league is very tough,” said

Meekings.

“I think people underestimate how tough it is. There are some good sides and some good players and I think the quality has probably got better.

“It’s up to us now to do it at home. We’re the only ones who can do that.

“We appreciate the support that we get and we were bitterly disappointed that we haven’t been able to give the fans anything to go home with from Inverness. We need to dust ourselves down and repay the fans.

“It’s about showing character and making sure we go again against Queen of the South. Otherwise we’ll fall away, and that’s not what we want.

“It’s early enough in the season that we can do something about it now but we need to start soon otherwise it’s going to get more difficult.”

Scoring goals is the biggest issue for Dundee as far as Meekings is concerned. The defender said: “That’s the frustrating part.

“We feel like we play good football but, when it comes to the crunch, we’re just not putting the ball in the net.

“At the other end, sometimes we’re giving away slack goals. If we keep doing that, we’re not going to get the results we want. We’re struggling in the final third with our cutting edge, ruthlessness, that side of the game.

“On another day, I think we could have had two or three (in Inverness). I’m not going to start slaughtering the forwards – that’s just the way it is.

“It was just one of those days for the forwards. On another day, we might have got something. We need to dust ourselves down and go again.

“We’re not where we want to be. The only way we’re going to get there is through hard work and doing the dirty stuff. We need to make sure we’re ruthless in both boxes.”