Josh Meekings is backing goalkeeper Jack Hamilton to put his blunder behind him if, as expected, he keeps his place in Dundee’s team.
Hamilton’s mistake against St Mirren, when he stood on the ball and gifted possession to the Buddies, cost the Dark Blues the game last Saturday.
Nevertheless, manager Neil McCann is expected to stand by his man when Aberdeen visit this afternoon and that would be just fine as far as Meekings is concerned.
“Jack is fine and he is a strong boy,” said Meekings.
“We have all been there and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t made several mistakes.
“As a goalkeeper, if you do one then that’s it – the ball is in the back of the net.
“We have all gathered around him and helped him out.
“The manager has spoken to him as well and we have to be together as a team.
“To get hit by a sucker punch like that was painful but it has happened now, we have analysed it, dealt with it and it’s now about how we react.
“One player can make a mistake but we must remember that we have all done it at one time or another.
“It is a tight-knit dressing room and we have a good bunch of boys.
“The moral is good and we will try to keep it like that.”
Meekings can look forward to a bruising physical battle at the back with Aberdeen’s unorthodox frontman Sam Cosgrove this afternoon. It is one he will relish.
“He is a very big boy, isn’t he?” said the Dundee defender of the Dons’ six-foot-two strongman.
“I am not the tallest of centre-halves but it will be a battle I will be up for.
“I will compete and try to make sure I come out on top.
“The physical stuff is part and parcel of the game and it’s nice to be involved in it.
“You give some and you take some and hope to come out of the contest on top.
“You are maybe more used to small, tricky players so he presents a different kind of challenge but it is just another test that I am looking forward to.”
Like most people who saw the Europa League battles, Meekings was impressed by the way the Pittodrie men ran Burnley close.
“We know Aberdeen are a good side and have been like that for a few years now,” he said.
“They might have injuries and that may help us a bit but I think, mainly, it’s about Dundee and how we play.
“In the games against Burnley they put in a good shift and also showed how much ability and quality they possess.
“I watched the game (at Turf Moor) and thought it was good, physical contest. Burnley had that little bit of quality in the end but Aberdeen gave a good account of themselves.
“It is good for Scottish football to have a team in our division competing with a side from the English Premier League.”
Meekings was delighted to see both midfielder Glen Kamara and his central defensive colleague Steven Caulker survive the closure of the English transfer window as Dundee players.
He said: “You could see the ability in those two straight away.
“As soon as I saw Glen play I thought he was tremendous and was glad he got a lot of awards at the end of the season from the fans.
“He has been brilliant and hopefully when he comes back in he will be on that sort of form again.
“Caulks is a EPL player who we managed to get hold of. That he is still here is fantastic news for the club and for people like me, who play alongside him.
“He is very helpful and playing with someone of his experience will hopefully make me better. We talk a lot and he is a nice guy. We chat about the game and different things and he’s brilliant.
“That is the sort of relationship you need in the team and it’s great that he is still here to do that.”
