Manager Neil McCann feels the time is right for Dundee to find that rare commodity in football – consistency.
The Dark Blues take on Motherwell at Dens Park tomorrow, looking to build on their dramatic Premiership win over Partick Thistle on Saturday.
Confidence will be through the roof after Simon Murray’s last-gasp goal secured a 2-1 victory and sparked wild scenes of celebration.
The difficult part is to build on that against the Steelmen, who have won two and drawn one of the three previous encounters between the sides this season including the Scottish Cup clash just under a fortnight ago.
Three points for the hosts tomorrow would be very precious indeed and McCann would love to go on a winning run as the business end of the season approaches.
“The level of consistency has dogged us a wee bit,” admitted the Dens boss.
“We have been up and down.
“I spoke to the players at the start of the season about the level of consistency enjoyed by the likes of St Johnstone and Aberdeen over the years and how it would be nice to have that here.
“However, I suppose when you are trying to implement a totally different way of playing you are going to have ups and downs.
“Every team is striving for consistency and I suppose there would be no better time of the season for us to find it.
“We know what to expect from Motherwell and you get that familiarity over a season.
“I would be surprised if Motherwell change their formation because Steve (Robinson) has a tried and tested way of playing.
“He can rotate his players but, generally, the style of football and the shape don’t change, whereas we can change.
“Maybe that will make a difference.
“This is a good opportunity now.
“We know the reward for beating Motherwell – that is plain to see – so we know what we have to achieve.”
McCann was, quite rightly, still happy to reflect upon what was a wonderful turnaround victory against the Jags.
“I thought we absolutely deserved it,” he said.
“Our second-half performance was a big change from the first.
“Maybe before the break we had been a wee bit too worried about breaking our shape.
“That stopped us creating chances but we changed it at half-time and I thought, right from the off, we were the better side.
“We created a number of opportunities,” added McCann, who has no fresh injury worries going into the Well game.
“We have played so well this season in some games without getting points so when we turned it around in the second half we definitely deserved it.
“I was pleased with the spirit of the players, who weren’t content to take just the one point. They went for it and they got it.
“I think when your character gets questioned you react.
“At Firhill, we conceded just before half-time and then, going into the dying embers of the match, I could have maybe even forgiven the fans for saying the team maybe won’t get it.
“But they supported the side and they were rewarded with proof that the players are prepared to go the extra mile.”
The piley-on that greeted Murray’s winner was a joy to behold and, McCann argued, evidence of how much it all means to the players.
He added: “It was great to see the celebration.
“Listen, you play football essentially to score goals and win games.
“We still had three minutes (of stoppage-time) to hold out but you wanted the lads to enjoy it because the emotional charge you get from that is why you play the game.
“Also, fans can be hugely influential and a positive reaction certainly helps, as it did on Saturday. You can feel the energy coming from the fans and their support was unbelievable.”
