The rapid transformation of Dundee from first division basement boys to championship contenders has been reflected by boss Barry Smith being named Irn Bru Manager of the Month for November.
Smith insisted he never had any doubt his players would come good for him, even though results were suggesting otherwise in the early weeks of the season.
It has been a dramatic revival, with victories chalked up over Raith Rovers, Stirling Albion, Morton, Falkirk and Hamilton the last of which was a spectacular 6-1 thrashing.
These results have catapulted the Dens Park club up the league table and they are now in third position, ready to pounce if runaway leaders Ross County falter.
Smith, who pulled off the remarkable achievement of steering Dundee to safety from relegation last term after they were hit by a 25-point deduction for going into administration, sees in his class of 2011/12 the same drive and hunger which served him so well last term.
He pointed out: ”I always had confidence in the players, even when we were not picking up results. The players are the ones who are on the park and they are the ones who had to deal with the disappointing start we had.
”So all the credit has to go to them because they have had come back from it, and they have done that so far.
“I always had confidence in them and kept telling them that. I think the big difference now has been they have the belief in themselves back again. That comes from winning games. They picked up a couple of wins, it kicked off again and are scoring goals now. They are going out thinking they’re going to win every game at the moment.
”It’s obviously an honour to win any award but it really has been down to the players.”
This season there may not be as serious a cause as playing to secure the club’s very future but that doesn’t mean the current crop are any less motivated than their predecessors.
Smith added: ”Last season people said we went on that great run because we had a cause to fight for. This time round things are a bit more normal but I still see the same determination to win games.
”They work hard for each other and are desperate to do well for the club. As a manager, when you have a group of players like that then it’s half the battle.
”Even when we were not picking up the results we wanted there was not once I could have criticised the effort.
”We lost good quality players last season, three of whom went on to play at a higher level, but we have brought good players in and I’m happy with the squad.”
Dundee face Queen of the South at Dens on Saturday and Smith insists they can’t afford to let their standards drop.
He said: ”Queen of the South had a great result against Ayr so they won’t make it easy for us. Hard work has got us up to where we are in the league and that’s what we’ll need to continue.”