Dundee manager Paul Hartley marked his first anniversary by insisting all the pressure is on Celtic ahead of their Scottish Cup clash.
The Dark Blues welcome the Hoops to Dens Park tomorrow and there would be no better way for the former Parkhead player to celebrate a year in the job than by wrecking his old club’s treble dream.
It is a big ask, of course, but the 12 months of his tenure have seen Dundee progress to a stage where they are considered tricky opponents for Ronny Deila’s men.
That is partly because they have run Celtic close when they have met so far this season – a 1-1 draw at Dens in August that they could have won and a narrow 2-1 away defeat in Novermber that is considered by the manager to be the better display of the two.
It is also partly due to a six-game unbeaten run since losing the New Year derby to Dundee United.
Hartley took time out from preparing his side for the fifth-round meeting to reflect on both his milestone and the big game.
He said: “A win would be a nice way to celebrate a year in charge.
“Not many managers last a year these at clubs these days so I’m quite happy to still be in a job after a year!
“That’s just the way it is but I’m happy here.
“It’s been a good year and an eventful one too.
“It’s been exciting and a good challenge on and off the pitch.
“We have rebuilt the squad since coming up from the Championship and are now in the top-flight doing all right.
“What has been satisfying since taking the job is that we have built a squad that’s been able to compete.
“That’s been the main thing for us, building a squad strong enough to play at the top level, then we can consolidate and build again like other teams have done.
“We want to progress year by year.
“Now we have another big game and I don’t think the pressure is on us on Saturday.
“Celtic are obviously the favourites but in the games against them so far this season we’ve ran them close.
“We have given them two good games and we will give ourselves a chance on Saturday.
“We will set a team out to be as attack-minded as possible.
“I think the run we are on shows that we’ve got good character within the ranks.
“And that’s all credit to the players.”
Having beaten Aberdeen in the previous round, the Dark Blues were once again asked to do it the hard way when they drew the Hoops.
However, Hartley said: “If you’re going to progress in the cup then you have to win these games.
“You could go and face a lesser team and go and get put out in a banana-skin tie.
“They couldn’t have come much harder than Aberdeen but we managed to get through that and now we’re facing Celtic.
“I don’t think the players need motivated to play against Celtic in terms of what’s required.
“If we win the game then we’re in the quarter-final and it opens up a wee bit.”
Dundee will be without Alex Harris and Paul Heffernan, with both players cup-tied from their time at Hibs,
Heffernan didn’t feature in the cup this season for the Easter Road men but he was an unused sub for the tie against Alloa, while Harris came off the bench in that 2-1 win over the Wasps.
Stephen McGinn is OK to play and his brother Paul is back in the squad. but Gary Harkins is sidelined because of a shin injury and skipper Kevin Thomson is considered doubtful.
Hartley said: “We knew when we signed Harris and Heff that they would be cup-tied so that’s just the way it is.”