Stephen O’Donnell insists the defiant Dark Blues will bounce back strongly after their record-breaking unbeaten run finally came to an end on Saturday against Raith Rovers.
“Deadball situations are a strength of Raith’s and we were trying not to give any silly free-kicks away. But, in fairness, they have put a ball in and we have won it but their guy has hit a fantastic strike.
“We have five massive games left especially next week at home against Stirling. We just need to take a wee breath and come back into training on Monday and start getting ready for the game on Sunday.”
Saturday’s match was the steepest of learning curves for Rennie and Bartlett but O’Donnell insisted they acquitted themselves well and all of the club’s youth players have a vital role to play in the remaining matches.
The midfielder also paid tribute to the Dundee fans who made the journey down the A92 and roared their team on from start to finish.
“The young boys came in against Raith and did brilliantly,” he said. “They did not look out of place and, to be fair, we never doubted them. We have had a wee word in the dressing room there to tell them that we are going to need them more than ever now.
“I would also like to give a wee special mention to the fans. They were absolutely magnificent and turned out in big numbers today and their backing will be crucial in these last five games.”
Rovers’ Tade admitted that he owed his club’s fans a goal after missing a close-range “sitter” during his side’s defeat at Falkirk last week.
“It was a great flick from John Baird,” he said. “I just tried to control the ball and make a clean contact and it went in.”
Tade’s boss, John McGlynn, also believes his side’s ability to win late in games is a sign of true champions.
“We kept the fans waiting right until the end and gave them their money’s worth,” he said. “Teams who win titles have a habit of scoring late on, so I am delighted.
“Dundee were never really in the game but never give up and suddenly they have equalised. It took a very special strike to win the match and we are looking forward to Cowdenbeath next week.”
Barry Smith’s side could not extend their sequence of results without loss to 24 matches in Kirkcaldy but the players can rightly hold their heads high after another heroic performance against all the odds.
They went into the game without the suspended Nicky Riley and Craig Forsyth and were forced to hand youth players Connor Rennie and Gary Bartlett their first-team debuts against title-chasing Raith.
Dundee had their backs against the wall throughout the first half but held out thanks to some last-ditch defending by Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston, with Matt Lockwood also pulling off an outstanding tackle which prevented Gregory Tade rampaging through on goal.
However, their resistance was broken just before the break when John Baird back flicked a pass into the path of Tade, who controlled the ball and drilled a shot past Rab Douglas in the Dundee goal.
The second half began like the first, with Raith bossing the game but this Dundee side just do not give up and equalised after O’Donnell latched on to a Rennie pass and rounded substitute keeper David McGurn to shoot home from the tightest of angles.
Dundee, who felt they had been the victims of some dubious refereeing decisions throughout, were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when whistler Craig Charleston sent off McKeown for his second bookable offence.
With just seconds remaining, the official awarded another free-kick, which Raith pumped deep into the Dundee box. The ball was cleared but only to the feet of Allan Walker who lashed it home off Douglas’ crossbar from 23 yards.
Now, despite tasting defeat for the first time since September, O’Donnell insists the players can pick themselves up and will be ready for next Sunday’s crunch match against Stirling Albion.
“We are obviously disappointed that the run has come to an end, as it has been a fair old journey,” said O’Donnell. “But we were down to 10 men against a team that is trying to win the league and it was a great strike which won it for them.
“Hopefully, we can eventually take a wee step back and appreciate what we have done. I do not want to mention the referee too much, as I do not think that would be fair on us or him. But I think the free-kick in the lead-up to the goal was a wee bit soft.
Continued…
Barry Smith’s side could not extend their sequence of results without loss to 24 matches in Kirkcaldy but the players can rightly hold their heads high after another heroic performance against all the odds.
They went into the game without the suspended Nicky Riley and Craig Forsyth and were forced to hand youth players Connor Rennie and Gary Bartlett their first-team debuts against title-chasing Raith.
Dundee had their backs against the wall throughout the first half but held out thanks to some last-ditch defending by Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston, with Matt Lockwood also pulling off an outstanding tackle which prevented Gregory Tade rampaging through on goal.
However, their resistance was broken just before the break when John Baird back flicked a pass into the path of Tade, who controlled the ball and drilled a shot past Rab Douglas in the Dundee goal.
The second half began like the first, with Raith bossing the game but this Dundee side just do not give up and equalised after O’Donnell latched on to a Rennie pass and rounded substitute keeper David McGurn to shoot home from the tightest of angles.
Dundee, who felt they had been the victims of some dubious refereeing decisions throughout, were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when whistler Craig Charleston sent off McKeown for his second bookable offence.
With just seconds remaining, the official awarded another free-kick, which Raith pumped deep into the Dundee box. The ball was cleared but only to the feet of Allan Walker who lashed it home off Douglas’ crossbar from 23 yards.
Now, despite tasting defeat for the first time since September, O’Donnell insists the players can pick themselves up and will be ready for next Sunday’s crunch match against Stirling Albion.
“We are obviously disappointed that the run has come to an end, as it has been a fair old journey,” said O’Donnell. “But we were down to 10 men against a team that is trying to win the league and it was a great strike which won it for them.
“Hopefully, we can eventually take a wee step back and appreciate what we have done. I do not want to mention the referee too much, as I do not think that would be fair on us or him. But I think the free-kick in the lead-up to the goal was a wee bit soft.
Continued…
Barry Smith’s side could not extend their sequence of results without loss to 24 matches in Kirkcaldy but the players can rightly hold their heads high after another heroic performance against all the odds.
They went into the game without the suspended Nicky Riley and Craig Forsyth and were forced to hand youth players Connor Rennie and Gary Bartlett their first-team debuts against title-chasing Raith.
Dundee had their backs against the wall throughout the first half but held out thanks to some last-ditch defending by Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston, with Matt Lockwood also pulling off an outstanding tackle which prevented Gregory Tade rampaging through on goal.
However, their resistance was broken just before the break when John Baird back flicked a pass into the path of Tade, who controlled the ball and drilled a shot past Rab Douglas in the Dundee goal.
The second half began like the first, with Raith bossing the game but this Dundee side just do not give up and equalised after O’Donnell latched on to a Rennie pass and rounded substitute keeper David McGurn to shoot home from the tightest of angles.
Dundee, who felt they had been the victims of some dubious refereeing decisions throughout, were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when whistler Craig Charleston sent off McKeown for his second bookable offence.
With just seconds remaining, the official awarded another free-kick, which Raith pumped deep into the Dundee box. The ball was cleared but only to the feet of Allan Walker who lashed it home off Douglas’ crossbar from 23 yards.
Now, despite tasting defeat for the first time since September, O’Donnell insists the players can pick themselves up and will be ready for next Sunday’s crunch match against Stirling Albion.
“We are obviously disappointed that the run has come to an end, as it has been a fair old journey,” said O’Donnell. “But we were down to 10 men against a team that is trying to win the league and it was a great strike which won it for them.
“Hopefully, we can eventually take a wee step back and appreciate what we have done. I do not want to mention the referee too much, as I do not think that would be fair on us or him. But I think the free-kick in the lead-up to the goal was a wee bit soft.
Continued…