Hartley’s men can hold heads high – but vital three games coming up

For the Dundee players, this defeat at Ibrox was as hard to swallow as an “I’m A Celebrity” bushtucker trial.

Indeed, I’m fairly sure, they would all rather munch away on a spider sandwich than have to endure this agonising type of result again.

The display the dogged Dark Blues produced was certainly deserving of at least a point and every one of Paul Hartley’s players can hold their heads high.

Special mention must go to the defence, especially my man-of-thematch Kevin Gomis as well as the tireless midfield of James Vincent, Tom Hateley and Paul McGowan who covered every blade of grass at Ibrox.

Young Craig Wighton showed some great touches and strength once again and Rangers’ Andy Halliday was a lucky man only to be shown a yellow card after a brutal challenge on the teenager in the second half.

Dundee can certainly take plenty of positives from a game they put so much into but the cruel lesson has to be that they cannot afford to let their concentration slip for even a second or they will be punished.

Taking anything from Ibrox would have been a bonus but the next three fixtures, against Inverness, Kilmarnock and Ross County, are crucial.

Dundee may be bottom of the Premiership but only three points separates them from Motherwell in sixth.

If the Dark Blues can reproduce the same grit and determination of the Ibrox display in the next few games, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t haul themselves up the table.

The tireless James Vincent puts a tackle in on Jason Holt.