Manager James McPake believes Dundee can learn a lot from Motherwell’s staying power in the Premiership.
The Dark Blues welcome the Steelmen to Dens on Saturday night for a William Hill Scottish Cup fourth round clash.
Facing the team that is sitting third in the top flight will be a considerable challenge for McPake’s men.
Well deserve the utmost respect as the best of the rest outside title challengers Rangers and Celtic and they will be given it by Dundee.
McPake has been particularly impressed by the Lanarkshire side have anchored themselves in the top flight since being promoted for season 1985-86.
That is the kind of longevity the Dark Blues would have loved to have had themselves. Instead, their stay lasted from 2014 to last May.
McPake said: “They have been in that league for as long as I can remember.
“I said this at the start of the season that five years isn’t long enough for a club like ours to be in the Premiership.
“People were saying we had a good run at it but, no, we didn’t.
“We should be in it every year as should our neighbours (Dundee United).
“When you look at Scottish football, you want the derbies.
“It was horrible when Hearts and Hibs weren’t in the same league so you didn’t have the Edinburgh derbies and it was the same when Rangers and Celtic weren’t in the same league.
“The Dundee derby is all right just now because we are both in the same league but, for me, you want the better games in your top league.
“So, yes, we want to be a club that can sustain a position in the top league for 10 years or beyond.
“Looking at Motherwell, to be there from 1986 is a long time to stay in a league.
“We did five years but that was not enough. We need to get back up and stay there.
“The problem is that there are loads of teams saying that but not many can do it so credit to Motherwell.”
McPake is expecting Well boss Stephen Robinson to come to Dens and have a real go.
He feel the emphasis will be on them as the team from the higher division to take the cup-tie to their Championship opposition.
The Dark Blues boss added: “It is maybe an old cliché to talk about the ‘romance’ but there is a special feel to it.
“Motherwell are expected to come here and win as they are the Premiership club but we will have a right go and we can’t wait for it.
“We will be facing an opposition that is different from what we normally face in terms of they will come here with a real attacking threat.
“The only other two teams who have done that this season are Dundee United and Ayr.
“Motherwell will come out and have a right go, like they do when they go to the likes of Celtic Park.
“That is just the way they play.
“I like watching them when they go forward but we need to find a way to hurt them with our style of play as well.
“It should be a good game for people to watch.”
McPake insisted that he hasn’t been surprised to see the Steelmen in such a lofty position, tucked in behind the Glasgow giants.
“That is not a surprise as far as I am concerned,” he said.
“You can see why the manager has been successful with his recruitment and the way they play.
“They can beat any team in that league from what I have seen of them this season.”
