Dundee’s Jordan McGhee believes the team answered their critics in the best possible fashion with a gritty, hard-fought win on Saturday over Alloa.
The Dark Blues had gone into the game on the back of two shattering defeats – the 6-2 derby mauling from Dundee United in the Championship and then the embarrassing loss to League 2 Elgin City in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.
Dundee were determined to bounce back strongly and did so against the Wasps thanks to an early goal from Danny Johnson and a second courtesy of McGhee.
The 23-year-old former Falkirk and Hearts defender said: “That was a massive victory.
“Everyone including the press have been on at us after two bad results so we had to put things right against Alloa and I think we did that.
“We just had to win the game somehow – winning ugly.
“I thought we worked our socks off and thoroughly deserved the victory.”
McGhee added: “After the two defeats, everyone could have felt down but the dressing-room was positive and this is a big three points for us.
“We know in-house how good we are and how good players we are.
“We all believe in the gaffer’s philosophy and we knew it would come good but we need to kick on now.
“We knew it would turn around with the quality we have in the dressing-room.”
With Dundee United losing at Ayr on Saturday, Dundee cut the gap on their table-topping city rivals to four points.
However, Dens boss James McPake insists he is just fully focused on his side and not what their near neighbours are doing.
McPake said: “That’s of no interest to me genuinely (cutting the gap).
“We’re five games into the season. It’s all about Dundee and we’ve won the game.
“I’m going home to enjoy a glass of wine with my wife.
“Maybe people will say I’m wrong but everything about me is just focused on Dundee.
“The task at the start of the day was to get the three points which we’ve done. So it’s a good day for us.
“Alloa were good and made it hard for us so we’re delighted.
“Of course, we need to win our home games as we want to make this place a fortress throughout the season.
“It’s a place where teams will come and raise their game so to get back to winning ways says a lot for the lads.”
