The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fanscanbe ‘weapon’for DarkBlues
PAUL HARTLEY believes Dundee’s fans can help win promotion but only if the players give them something to shout about.
The Dark Blues were were roared on to victory against Hamilton by all but a small group of the 5,206 attendance at Dens Park on Saturday.
It was an excellent turnout that was only bettered by the Scottish Cup gates at Celtic Park, Ibrox and Easter Road.
Hartley, who insisted he wasn’t surprised by the size of the home support, feels they can cheer Dundee over the line in the race to go up to the Premiership.
However, he accepted the players have a duty to earn that backing between now and May.
Hartley said: “I have been to a few games here over the years and knew of the attendances this season so I wasn’t surprised with the turnout we got against Hamilton,” said the new Dark Blues boss.
“I have known the crowds were there and obviously when a new manager comes in the expectations are then a little bit higher.
“A lot more people probably wanted to venture out for the game and I thought the supporters were really good on Saturday.
“They got behind the players. The key thing was that we started well.
“The intensity with which we started the game got the crowd going.
“If we can keep doing that then, of course, the crowd can be a weapon for us.”
The fans certainly left the ground with smiles on their faces after a 1-0 win which, coupled with Falkirk’s defeat at Queen of the South, sent the Dark Blues three points clear at the top of the Championship.
Hartley revealed he has urged his players to sport grins of their own and savour being league leaders.
He added: “I told them to just go and play with a smile on their face. They played without fear against Hamilton and you could tell they were enjoying it.
“I said to them at half-time that they must be enjoying the game because they were getting so much of the ball.
“The only thing that was missing was the end product because we had loads of possession and chances. Now they should enjoy being top of the league because that’s where you want to be as a player.
“The challenge now to each of them is: ‘Can you stay there?’
“There are 13 games to go to try and get to where we want to be come the end of the season. It’s up to them to try and get us there.”
Meanwhile, the Dark Blues’game against Raith Rovers, scheduled for March 8, will need to find a new date.
The postponement of the Championship clash is due to the Kirkcaldy club’s march into the William Hill Scottish Cup quarterfinals. Instead of heading to Dens for their league fixture, Rovers will be hosting St Johnstone at Stark’s Park that weekend.