Dundee midfielder Joe Grayson has hit back at his doubters after a lukewarm welcome to his time at Dens Park.
After joining the club on a season-long loan from Barrow, Grayson put on a fine debut display in an early-season win over Arbroath.
However, he hasn’t been able to repeat that level of performance consistently since and admitted last month he was disappointed with his own form.
A few weeks on Grayson feels he’s done better lately but insists he’s only interested in the opinions of those closest to him as he prepares to face Partick Thistle at Firhill this afternoon.
“I thought I stepped up against Ayr,” Grayson said when asked how he felt about his performances in the past few weeks.
“There are probably a lot of people on my back at this moment in time but I know what I give the team when maybe other people don’t see.
“As long as I’m pleasing people in the dressing room and in the coach’s office, that’s all that matters.
“I don’t really get affected by what goes on outside these walls.”
‘Lot of pressure’
The expectation is high for any Dundee team in the Championship, where promotion is always the target.
Right now Gary Bowyer’s side sit in sixth place in the second tier after 13 games.
Wins have been elusive in recent weeks with just one victory in the last five league games.
However, Grayson says the close nature of the league table should give the Dark Blues confidence they can put together a telling run of form.
But he also admits there is little further margin for error.
“There is a lot of expectation and pressure on us this season and it hasn’t started the way we want,” he added.
“But we’re not a million miles away from the top of the division.
“We all know we haven’t played at our best.
“If we can turn that corner, produce a little bit more quality and take our chances then it should be exciting.
“And we can hopefully climb the league.
“A couple of wins and you jump up a few places.
“The pressure and expectation on us is a lot but we are still in a decent position to kick on.
“We just can’t afford to slip away much more.”
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