With five first choice players out of their starting line-up at Parkhead on Wednesday night, some Dundee fans would have been fearing a morale-sapping heavy defeat by the Premiership leaders Celtic.
Instead, the 0-0 draw that probably should have been a 1-0 win, will take Paul Hartley’s men into their Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers with momentum behind them.
Here are five talking points going from one Glasgow away day to another –
1 Who plays at the back and in what formation?
Hartley has tried the 3-5-2 in the past but didn’t persist with it after some early-season wobbles. It certainly worked at Celtic Park, though. Kevin Holt and Cammy Kerr (more of him later) look more suited to being wing-backs than orthodox full-backs in a flat back four. They were an ever-willing attacking option and rarely got exposed in behind. And the three centre-backs kept Leigh Griffiths quiet and a long way from goal, which is the primary job of any side facing Celtic these days. Against Rangers you could see Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart performing the Rory Loy and Craig Wighton role up front, and in a 3-5-2 you would probably leave the midfield alone. One of the issues however with this formation is – how do you accommodate Gary Harkins?
Hartley will more than likely revert to the system that has served him so well in previous weeks. The big dilemma with that one will be – if Darren O’Dea and Thomas Konrad are fit, do they come back in? I would replace Kostadin Gadzhalov with O’Dea but there has to be a spot for Julen Etxabeguren in whatever formation and line-up Hartley goes with. He was the classiest defender on the pitch against Celtic and made himself undroppable.
Team and tactics kept Hartley awake at night in the first part of the week and the second part probably won’t be any different. With more than 11 men in form and two tried and tested systems to choose from, he won’t be having nightmares though.
2 The future is bright
You wouldn’t expect Kerr to start at Ibrox but the way he played against Celtic (and in the last Dundee derby) has proved he can rise to the big occasion. He’s clearly one for the long-term. Of even greater significance was Wighton’s display. Hartley was proved right with his pre-match comments about the change he has seen in the teenager since he last started against Celtic in a cup tie at Dens just over a year ago. He was a little boy lost that day but not on Wednesday night. The close-control and balance of his counter-attack run and shot just before half-time may be looked back on in years to come as the moment a star was born.
3 Ibrox will be different to Parkhead
In terms of acclimatising for an away game against Rangers, an away game at Celtic three days previously would be seen as ideal. It wasn’t though. Celtic Park was half-empty, quiet and when the natives did find their voice it was to show their disapproval at their own team and management. Ibrox may be the other side of the same city but there will be no comparison. Nothing brings the post-demotion Rangers players and fans together like a cup clash with a Premiership side, and Saturday’s crowd will be as raucous and intimidating as Wednesday night’s was flat and obliging.
4 Scott Bain needs to stay calm
Bain is an excellent goalkeeper. His agility and shot-saving is up there with the best in Scotland and his cross-taking is under-rated. But he will need to curb an eagerness to get involved that he showed against Celtic. There’s a fine line between helping your defenders by being ready to come out of your box to clear, and dropping your team into unnecessary danger. He strayed on the wrong side of that line with his first half fresh air swipe that he got away with. Bain needs to err on the side of caution on Saturday.
5 Who are the favourites?
Despite what the bookmakers suggest, I would say Dundee. Just. A baying Ibrox crowd and a highly-motivated, in-form opposition are significant factors, of course. But Dundee are every bit as motivated and in-form (and don’t have one key forward cup-tied and another injured). Provided there is no freeze on the big occasion, man for man Hartley has the stronger team at his disposal. The favourites’ tag means nothing, but it should be Dundee’s.