The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dee draw not out of the blue
for reinforcements to turn things around but the manager has done it with what he has at his disposal already. That’s due to a whole host of factors but crucially the players now know exactly what is expected of them with clear and concise instructions and everyone is playing where they are supposed to.
I didn’t expect positive results against Hibs and Rangers so, yes, this probably has happened a bit earlier than expected. Kenny Miller becoming a different player under McIntyre than he was under Neil McCann, and Darren O’Dea coming in from the cold, have almost been the equivalent of new signings. And Martin Woods has made a big impact too.
QAre you now starting to reassess how high Dundee can set their sights?
No, I think it’s way too early for that kind of talk. Keep the focus on staying off the foot of the table while striving to edge up to 10th spot. That will be the way McIntyre will be looking at it, especially with trips to Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and Celtic Park to come.
Whoa! The manager himself has said that the recent run is only a start and Dundee still have lots of work to do before they have fully extricated themselves from the mire. I for one hope never to hear the phrase “we are a top six team” from any Dundee player again in this season of strife.
It will take a while for Dundee to move past Hamilton but that has to be a realistic goal. The two-way battle at the bottom is definitely three now.
QWhat are the potential obstacles for a continued revival?
The next few games.
Injuries and suspensions. With Josh Meekings missing the rest of the season through injury and the likes of Elton Ngwatala, Kharl Madianga and Jean Mendy frozen out, Dundee look light on numbers. So reinforcements are needed in January.
Keeping Kenny Miller fit and healthy is everything. He has overtaken Glen Kamara as the main man at Dens.
QIt sometimes feels as if we take St Johnstone for granted here at Talking Football. Assess their win at Aberdeen and the eight-game unbeaten run?
I covered this match and have to say that it was a treat. As I said in my match report, Tommy Wright got his tactics absolutely spot-on and his players were good enough to carry out the game plan. They have a manager who knows what he is doing and a team willing and able to do what he tells them.
The win was a valuable three points but the run really is remarkable. It all began with a 1-0 win at Motherwell and I certainly would not bet against it continuing with another victory over the Steelmen at McDiarmid on Saturday.
It’s the best run of league form since Tommy Wright took over, according to the man himself. Given the success Saints have had in recent seasons, that is all the context you need.
QWhat position in the league should they be targeting?
It will be a huge success for Saints if they can finish in the top six but on the form they produced up the road they have a realistic chance of finishing above Hearts, Hibs and the Dons.
Considering this was supposed to be a season of transition for Saints, a top six finish would be a huge achievement.
I suspect Aberdeen will spend in January and end up above Saints. And we can take it for granted that Celtic and Rangers will as well. But it is an even fight between Saints, Hearts, Hibs and Kilmarnock after that, so fourth isn’t beyond their reach.