Dundee winger Nicky Riley reckons the players’ desire to stay in the SPL will not waver, despite dropping two points in the weekend’s stalemate with Inverness.
The Dark Blues remain undefeated in the league under interim boss John Brown thanks to their 1-1 draw at Dens Park, but the deficit between themselves and second bottom St Mirren remains at 14 points with another round of fixtures down.
Having said that, Riley believes the fact his side were disappointed not to beat a high-flying Caley side is cause for optimism.
“It shows you in the last couple of games how far we’ve come, that we’re disappointed drawing games,” he said. “We’ve more than matched teams but it’s the results that matter.
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“The results in the last couple of games have been better but it’s disappointing to get a draw that’s how we’re looking at it. We know we need to win games to catch the teams above us but we’ve definitely got belief we can stay up.”
The main aim for Dundee since day one of this year’s campaign has been to stay in the top flight, and Riley believes the arrival of Brown as boss has reinforced a willingness to achieve that which has been there all season long.
“I don’t think the effort and the fight had ever left throughout the whole season,” he added. “It’s been a difficult season obviously and when a new manager comes in things do change and he has instilled fight in us.
“He can’t fault our effort and everyone is out there giving 100%. He’s come in and he’s given boys confidence, which is obviously a good thing. You always play your best football when you are confident.
“He’s told us that we’re under no pressure and just to go out and enjoy our football. He’s said to us to go out and express ourselves, and it’s good to hear that from a manager.”
Meanwhile, Dundee chief executive Scot Gardiner will attend an SPL board meeting today with league reconstruction again on the table.
“I have broken my back trying to get this through not only for ourselves but for Scottish football as a whole which, in my opinion, is dying under the current system,” Gardiner stated in the club’s programme on Saturday.
“There is a real fight still to be had as, make no mistake about it, there are those who want to keep their boot on our neck.
“I will be doing my best for Dundee FC because, as I say, the alternative is unthinkable, unfair and has been proven to be fatally flawed.”
For a full match report, see Monday’s Courier or try our digital edition.