Dundee boss Neil McCann has praised the impact of Elliott Parish after the goalkeeper triggered a one-year contract extension with the club.
Parish, who arrived from Accrington last summer, made his 27th appearance for Dundee in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Hamilton, and has already matched a clause in his contract which sees him extend his stay at Dens Park beyond the summer.
The 27-year-old made a vital contribution in the win over Accies, saving a late penalty from Dougie Imrie to clinch the three points which means Dundee are all but safe from relegation this season.
They are now six points clear of Partick Thistle with two games to play and boasting a superior goal difference ahead of their trip to Dingwall tomorrow.
“He has done really well considering when he came in he had to be really patient, playing behind Scott Bain,” McCann said of Parish, who had to wait until November to make his debut.
“He got his chance and has had some brilliant displays.
“I thought he was superb up in Dingwall the last time when we got a great result (2-0 win in December).
“I think he will be really satisfied with his performances.
“He had contract with a trigger on it if he made so many appearances, and he has done that and clearly that is testament to how well he has done to stay in the team.
“The life of a goalkeeper can be grim because you’re just waiting on one player going down as opposed to an outfield player and you are the last line of defence.
“If you make a mistake – as Elliott had done – you think it might have cost a result, but my goodness, he stepped up on Saturday and he was a hero because that was a huge three points for us.
“He seems pretty happy going into this next game, that’s for sure.”
It would take a nine-goal swing and results to go against them for Dundee to be at risk of dropping into the play-off place, but McCann is not in a position to let his players get complacent.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there have not been any engines turned down and we’re not going up there to go through the motions. We understand what we have to do to avoid the play-off spot,” he said.
“It’s a win we’re after tomorrow night.”
