A stop-start fixture list may not have been ideal but Dundee boss Jim McIntyre admits he’s used it to his advantage during his first six weeks in charge.
This weekend’s blank fixture list for the Dark Blues because of Aberdeen’s involvement in the Betfred Cup Final will be the third since Jim was named manager in mid-October.
And he doesn’t hide a game every one of those weekends would have been his preference. Even so, he’s looking on the one big positive of that situation.
He said: “Without a shadow of a doubt it’s given us a chance to put our ideas into the players.
“Having a full week in training has been good, whereas the first couple of weeks it was full on with the games, so you’re not really getting to spend the time on the training ground that you really want to.”
As last Saturday’s improved performance and draw at Hibs suggest, he believes that extra time to work on tactics and shape has brought progress.
“The players have certainly taken on board the style of play we want to play and what’s expected from the players that’s in each position.
“That work will continue. That needs to be constant with reminders but it has given us the chance to do that with the run of fixtures coming up.”