Docherty: I feel an enormous sense of pride
Proud Dundee boss Tony Docherty heaped praise on his players for clinching a top-six place in their first season back in the Premiership.
Draws at Pittodrie and Fir Park saw the Dens Park club securing the remaining slot before Wednesday’s twice re-arranged meeting with Rangers.
It also ended any question about sporting integrity as Hibernian had complained that Dundee’s delayed match gave them an unfair advantage.
Docherty was delighted that his men’s hard fought draw blew any such suggestion out of the water.
The Dens Park manager admits: “That did rankle with me, it did bother me. Sporting integrity is important to me and the fact it doesn’t go to Wednesday does sit better with me.”
He wasn’t happy at being yellow carded by referee Nick Walsh after a verbal bust-up with Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie in the first half.
But the former Dons assistant had too much to celebrate to concentrate on the few negatives on a positive day for the club he took charge of last summer.
He said: “I feel an enormous sense of satisfaction and pride. Honestly, I’m so proud of the players. They deserve all the credit.
“In certain seasons, you can maybe get a team who will reach a cup final over three or four games.
“But, to produce what we have over a full league campaign, and as a newly promoted team, is fantastic.
“We are a young team, the youngest squad in the league actually. It’s huge testament to the boys. I am so proud of them.
“The players are a brilliant bunch to work with. They deserve all the plaudits. We sat down as a group at the start of the season and we obviously wanted to ensure our survival. That was our main objective. But you start picking up good results and realise you could maybe look up the way and aim higher.”
Ironically, it was Motherwell’s late leveller against Hibs that turned things back Dundee’s way a week after a painful 3-2 home defeat from them last weekend.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen caretaker manager Peter Leven will find out what role, if any, he will play under Jimmy Thelin at a meeting tomorrow.
The current Elfsborg boss will take charge in June after the Swedish club’s game with IFK Gothenburg.
However, Leven is convinced that, despite only winning eight league games this season, they can beat Celtic next Saturday to end on the high of a Scottish Cup Final.
Leven said: “We believe we can win the game.”