Dundee have picked up plenty of plaudits for their easy-on-the-eye play this season – now A-Jay Leitch-Smith admits they are determined to receive recognition for their battling qualities as well.
The Dark Blues face Hamilton at lunchtime at Dens with both sides desperate for a win as they try to ensure their Premiership safety.
The last time Neil McCann’s men faced Accies at New Douglas Park in January, they secured a dramatic victory courtesy of a last-gasp winner from on-loan Shrewsbury Town striker Leitch-Smith.
His goal sparked wild celebrations both on and off the park with the 28-year-old admitting it was the best moment of his time in Scotland so far.
Now, he is determined Dundee will display similar never-say-die qualities again when they play Martin Canning’s men in front of the Sky Sport cameras this afternoon.
He said: “That goal has to be the highlight of my Dundee career so far.
“You can’t really beat scoring a late winner deep into the 98th minute.
“I just felt the goal was going to come in the end and thankfully it did.
“It is a great memory and you can’t really beat that.
“You just saw what it meant to everyone as we celebrated especially after coming back from a goal down.
“We will take another win against Hamilton however it comes.
“We will be ready to play, ready to fight and hopefully we can do enough to get the three points.
“All that matters at the moment is a win – not how you get it.
“If you have to rough it up, defend for your lives and fight that’s what you have to do.
“The most important thing is get the points to try to pull as far away from that drop zone as you can.”
Hamilton had lost six games on the bounce until their vital victory over struggling Ross County at home last week.
And Leitch-Smith knows they will present a physical challenge that has to be matched at Dens.
He said: “They are tough to play against.
“They like the contact, the physical side of it but we will be ready for them and hopefully we can do what we need to do.”
Dundee could not match Hamilton’s achievement last Saturday, losing 2-1 to Motherwell at Fir Park.
Leitch-Smith started the game on the bench but was called into action in just the fourth minute when fellow striker Sofien Moussa had to go off with a calf injury.
The Tunisian is a big doubt for the Hamilton game and Leitch-Smith insists he is raring to go if he is recalled to the starting line-up.
He added: “It was a bit unexpected having to come off the bench so soon after kick-off last week and I was just straight on.
“So I was a little rusty when I first went on but I got to grips with the game after 10 or 15 minutes.
“It has been a little bit frustrating for me but you just have to keep yourself fit and when your chance comes, you have to be ready to take it.
“The likes of big Moussa have done very well recently, scoring important goals for us.
“His all-round play has been great as well.
“But I have been keeping myself ticking over and if you are not in the team you have to do your own bits and pieces as well after training.
“So I have kept myself in good nick and I will be ready again if called upon.”
