Hemmings’ bid to reach target backed

Strike partner Stewart admits confidence will be key in Kane’s quest for 30

Greg Stewart has backed his fellow striker Kane Hemmings to score 30 goals for Dundee this season.

That will be the next personal milestone for the former Rangers man after hitting the 20 mark with a crucial late equaliser against Inverness Caledonian Thistle that had the dual benefit of keeping the Dens Park side above their opponents in the Premier ship table, and ensuring that they go into Old Firm week with sustained momentum.

On He mm ings’ individual accomplishment, them an who knows him well from their Cowdenbeath days, said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant achievement for him. When you play for Dundee you don’ t get too many chances so I’ m delighted for him to score 20.”

And, with plenty of time left in the season, could he get 10 more? “You never know,” Stewart said. “If he keeps getting in the right places I believe that he can. I’ m sure he thinks the same with the confidence he’s got just now.”

Hemmings certainly did Stewart a favour by finishing off an off-the-trainingground 86 th minute corner from close range, as Stewart had been guilty of passing up several clear-cut chances in what was looking like being a second half Dundee onslaught that would be without reward.

There was a dragged shot wide from inside the box and then a botched one-onone that were the most notable moments to forget.

“I thought I was going to do the boys out of at least a point with all the chances I’ve missed,” Stewart admitted.

“I’ve got to do better but we kept on battling and deserved at least a point. It shows the spirit we’ve got in the dressing room.

“The goalie had a good game but I hit it right at him with my chance at the end.

“It could be a big point when we’re looking back at the end of the season if it has got us into the top six. It will be two points dropped if we don’t make it.”

Dundee were slow starters in this contest and Caley Thistle deserved their early opener when Ross Draper beat the Dark Blues’ offside trap, took the ball round Scott Bain and side-footed home.

From about the mid-point of the first half though it was a tale of Dundee dominance, excellent goalkeeping from Owain Fon-Williams, poor finishing and some dubious Andrew Dallas refereeing.

Next up for Paul Hartley’s men are Celtic away on Wednesday night and then the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers at Ibrox.

“We’ve got Celtic in the league and that’ s the one we need to concentrate on ,” Stewart said.

“It will be two very tough games but

they’re the type of matches you want to play. It’s nice to get a rest before a big game but we’ve got two matches to play this week and as a player you want to challenge yourself.

“The boys are looking forward to Wednesday night before we start thinking about the cup. We’ve kept a few clean-sheets lately and we’re on a good run.”

Hartley believes the Old Firm double header will be an examination of mind rather than body.

“It’s a testing week for us – more mental than anything,” he said.

“We’re going to get tested but I believe in this group of players. With the amount of possession we had and the number of chances we created, on another day we could have won that 5-1.

“Some of our play was absolutely first class. With the combination between our front four or front five, whatever you want to call it, I thought we were terrific. We had a shaky 10 or 15 minutes at the start but after that I thought we dominated the play.

“You start to think ‘it’s not our day’ but this group of players keep going to the end. They don’ t just lump the ball into the box, they keep passing and moving. “That’s one defeat in nine.” The Inverness camp didn’t try to persuade anyone that the 86th minute equaliser was an injustice.

Draper said: “We didn’t deserve anything from our second half performance. We were nowhere near how we played in the first half.

“So maybe we should be grateful for a point. After about an hour we’d have taken that.

“This is as tight a league as I can remember. Everyone’ s looking over their shoulder and looking forward as well.”

Manager John Hughes said: “Second half was all Dundee and they did enough to deserve their point. I’m honest enough to say that.”

We’re going to get tested but I believe in this group of players... on another day we could have won that 5-1. PAUL HARTLEY

Picture: SNS Group. Kane Hemmings celebrates after scoring his 20th goal of the season.

Dark Blues defender Darren O’Dea, who has been in fine form since arriving at Dens Park last month, goes off at half-time with a groin problem.

Pictures: SNS Group. Left: Inverness keeper Owain Fon-Williams punches the ball clear as Dundee pile on the pressure: above: Hemmings gets a pat on the back from fellow striker Greg Stewart after his goal earned the Dark Blues a share of the spoils.